Nigeria can be rid of Polio -- Stenhammar
THE past president, Rotary International, Mr. Carl-Wilhem Stenhammar, has said that, with a little more work, Nigeria could be rid of polio this year.
Mr. Stenhammer made the remark when he led a delegation of rotarians and medical personnel on a courtesy visit to the Kano state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau at the Government House, Kano.
He lamented that Nigeria is one of the four polio endemic countries in the world, pointing out that his organization, in collaboration with other stakeholders, are wholly committed to eradicating the disease.
The past rotary president said they are in the country to monitor the current polio immunization, explaining that from what he saw in Kano, the exercise is organized.
He thanked the state government for its effort in that direction, hoping the trend would be sustained and assured that Rotary International would do everything to help out.
Responding, Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, who was represented by the state Head of Civil Service, Malam Rabiu Zakariya’u, thanked Rotary International for its interventions in various human endeavours, saying the impact is quiet noticeable.
Malam Shekarau assured that the state government would continue to work closely with the organization and similar bodies toward improving the lof of the people in the state and the country at large.
The national coordinator, National Programme on Immunization (NPI), Dr. Edugie Abebe, noted with delight that a lot of progress has been achieved in Kano concerning immunization, urging the government not to relent in the anti-polio war.