Sir. Emeka Offor Becomes Rotary Ambassador

Funke Akindele Unveiled as Rotary
Meet the
Polio Eradication Ambassador
National
ollywood actress Funke Akindele,
popularly known as 'Jenifa', has been
Programme
announced by the Nigerian National
Co-ordinator Polio Plus
Club Committee as the ambassador
N
for Polio eradication campaign.
PolioPlus
Rotary International
Cont’d on pg. 5
The NNPPC Chairman, PDG Funsho Decorating
Funke Akindele as Polio Eradication Ambassador
Poliost p
Nigeria, Soon to be Polio Free - UNICEF
October, 2013
Official Newsletter of the Nigerian National Polio Plus Committee
Contribute
Participate
Change
Sir. Emeka Offor Becomes Rotary Ambassador
As Indian philanthropist boosts Rotary's push to end polio with new US$1 million gift. Pg. 5
Sir. Emeka Offor seated amongst Rotary Leaders & his friends after his recognition at the Lisbon Convention.
Rotary Donates Polio Eradication
Banners to Sokoto State Government
A End Polio Now display by Rylarian at the just concluded Rotary
District 9125, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Programme
250 pieces of banners Lunched by Barr. Ogunkeye,
Sokoto State Permanent Secre SMOH & SSPHCDA ES),
National Polio Plus Committee: PDG Tunji Funsho - Chairman, PDG Yomi Adewunmi- Vice Chairman, PDG Charles Femi Lawani- Vice Chairman,
PDG Kazeem Mustapha-Vice Chairman, PAG Sagab Ahmed-Vice Chairman, PDG Obafunso Ogunkeye-Secretary, PP Remi Bello-Treasurer,
DGE Felix Aninze-PR Consultant, PDG Dolapo Lufadeju-Representing CRODIGON, PDG Yinka Babalola-Special Representative,
DG Gbemiga Olowu & DG Charles Onianwa
PolioPlus
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October, 2013.
Rotary International
25 Facts About Polio for
Non-Medical and
Non-Scientific Elites
- Nigerian National Polioplus Committee Chairman
1. Q: What exactly is
p o l i o ?
A: P o l i o i s a n
infectious disease
caused by a virus. It
leads to permanent
paralysis (usually in
the legs) and can
cause death as well.
The polio virus is
silent. This means
that polio can be
widespread in a
community before it
manifests itself as a
case of paralysis and
can be fatal if it
p a r a l y z e s t h e Funsho, Chairman NNPPC.
muscles used for breathing. Polio mainly affects
children under five years of age.
2. Q: How does the polio virus spread?
A: The polio virus spreads through the faecal-oral route
(from excreta to hand and to the mouth). Usually this is a
result of poor hand washing or by eating/drinking
contaminated food or water. Those infected with the
virus can excrete the virus in their stool for several
weeks and are likely to infect others with the virus due to
poor hygiene and sanitation. Individuals are most
contagious (likely to pass on the virus to others)
immediately before the onset of symptoms and soon
after they appear
3. Q: Can polio be treated?
A: There is no treatment for polio because the nerve
damage is permanent but the polio vaccine has proven
to be very effective in giving children lifelong protection
from the virus. Physical therapy and braces can help
paralysed children to regain some function, but nerve
damage is permanent.
Meet the National Programme
Co-ordinator
O
luwakemi
Lawanson,
i s
a
s e a s o n e d ,
committed, and
d e v o t e d
professional of
known and proven
i n t e g r i t y, b o t h
nationally and
internationally. Her
unquenchable
passion to see and
be involved in
building a great
future for her
generation as a
whole, has led her Mrs. Kemi Lawanson
to active work and
involvement in various professional and community
work across the Nations of the world in view of
supporting the good and renown policy of the existing
governments. e.g. Executive member of the board of
reference, and the first Black woman member of Medic
Assist International, a renowned International body of
medical professionals whose main objective is capacity
building of existing health care delivery facilities and
professionals in many third world countries, with Nigeria
being their pioneer project since 2001.
She was the President/Chief Executive Officer of
MODZ. UK, a Non-Governmental organisation
committed to supporting Nations through active
developmental and capacity building projects and
provision of technical support and mentorship to
various Government intervention projects organised
towards building a healthier and safer Nation.
An entrepreneur of repute, philanthropist and writer,
she has over 21 years of working experience at top
executive management levels in own private and
government establishments both in Nigeria and in the
United Kingdom.
Her wealth of business experience, professional
knowledge, leadership and good communication skills,
with proven integrity has enabled her to make a
substantial contribution to the development of our great
Nation and also abroad.
In this Edition
Polio Update
l
New Programme
l
In Nigeria
Poliost p
Co-ordinator
Funke Akindele Polio
l
Eradication Ambassador
World Polio Day
l
Past RI President,
l
Wilkinson Immunised
Children in the North
Nigeria to be Polio Free
l
Polio FAQs
l
PolioPlus
Rotary International
Poliost p
October, 2013.
Funke Akindele Unveiled as Rotary Polio Eradication Ambassador
Cont’d from pg. 1
Funke Akindele is to
lead the 'This Close'
public awareness
campaign that will
help Rotary achieve
its goal of a polio-free
world.
Speaking on the new
position, Funke said,
“I feel so honoured to
be part of a charitable
cause like this. I
a c c e p t e d t h i s Chairman and members of NNPPC with Funke Akindele
appointment because
polio kills or paralyses children and of polio since the mid 80's thanks to
Rotary is committed to ending this the vigorous efforts of Rotary
International and its partners.”
terrible disease worldwide.”
Akindele's
appointment will be
“I also learned that the world has
announced
officially
to the media on
never been so close to eradication
3
October 19, 2013, as part of the
activities lined up to mark the world
polio day.
Other people who have been
involved in the global fight against
polio include Bill Gates, Nobel
Peace laureate Archbishop
Desmond Tutu, Jackie Chan and
Pop star PSY.
Rotary Supports Sept SIPDs, As Past RI President
Wilkinson Immunised Children In Kaduna
D
uring the September Special
Immunisation Polio Days, 5
of the field coordinators
were amongst the MSTs deployed
to the very high risk LGAs in
Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto,
and Zamfara States. The LGAs are
Kaduna South, Katsina, Jega,
Sokoto north, and Gusau
respectively.
The Nigerian National Polio Plus
Committee donated quality and
highly demanded plus items (soaps,
sweets, and balloons) to these
LGAs through the field coordinators.
The donations were highly
appreciated and commendable by
the Local Government chairmen.
The NNPPC, through the polio
ambassador Sani Danja also
organized grand road shows in 4
LGAs of Kano State namely, Fagge,
Bichi, Takai, and Danbatta lgas as
part of our commitment to boost the
social mobilization efforts of our
partners in the ongoing emergency
response activities in Kano State.
The road show events took place on
the 2nd and 3rd of September and it
successfully attracted a huge crowd
in each of the LGAs especially the
targeted adult men and women of
child bearing ages who came out in
mass to listen to the pro – OPV
messages delivered by Sani Danja
at the various communities visited.
As part of activities promoting
advocacy for the OPV uptake, sani
danja paid courtesy call on the
community leaders' in all the
communities visited to acquaint
them before addressing the public
alongside the community leaders.
These road shows undoubtedly had
positive impact on the success of
the Kano response SIPDs in
September as the event was
planned in partnership with the
Local Government team and state
EOC. Some of their members
participated in the event and led the
sani danjas's team to specific areas
of high non- compliance to the
uptake of the OPV.
The September Special
Immunisation Programme Days
was a special one as it was graced
with the visit of PRIP Wilfrid at the
Kaduna South Lga on Saturday the
7th of September where he
conducted the vaccination exercise
with the team in one of the wards
and attended the evening review
meeting. He was accompanied by
the chairman of the
Nigerian
National Polio Plus Committee PDG
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October, 2013.
Rotary International
Poliost p
September 2013 Polio Update
cases have been reported as
against the 43 cases reported in
August ending 2013 and 84
reported at the same period last
year 2012. The two new cases are
from the Shan LGA in Borno State
and the Doguwa LGA in Kano State
respectively. Glad to report that no
new case of the WPV3 has been
reported till date in Nigeria.
The emergency response activities
continued in Kano State and
uninterrupted by the September
SIPDS activities which took place
from the 7th – 10th of September.
Mrs. Kemi Lawanson
T
he month of September has
been very eventful and most
exciting so far as Rotary
NNPPC commitment to funds
advocacy and social mobilisation for
polio eradication in Nigeria geared
up to another level in active
response to the new cases reported
both in August and early weeks of
September.
As at the 6th of September 2013, a
total number of 45 wild polio virus
The IR banners raised up during the launch in Kaduna State
Polio cases in Nigeria as at 30th September 2013
DATES OF IPDs FOR THE REST OF 2013
OCTOBER
5TH - 9TH NIPD Northern States combined with
Measles campaign.
NOVEMBER
2nd - 11th SIPD (Kebbi,Niger,Kaduna,FCT)
NOVEMBER
9th - 12th SIPD (Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Katsina,
Jigawa, Yobe, Borno and Bauchi);
NOVEMBER
2nd - 6th NIPD in southern states combined with
measles campaign.
DECEMBER
14th - 17th Special rounds in underserved areas of
the 11 HR states.
PolioPlus
Rotary International
Poliost p
October, 2013.
5
Sir. Emeka Offor Becomes Rotary Ambassador
S
ir Emeka Offor, the Group
Executive Vice Chairman of
Chrome Group and founder
of the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation
(SEOF), was formally invested as
Rotary International Polio
Ambassador, the first ever from
Nigeria. This took place at an event
organised by Rotary International at
the International Conference
Centre.
The event, which had in attendance
the Rotary International PresidentElect for 2014, Gary Huang, was
also graced by eminent Nigerians,
including the Minister of Tourism,
Culture and National Orientation,
Honourable Edem Duke, former
Nigerian Senate President Ken
Nnamani, Former Minister of
Environment John Ode, Chairman
of the All Progressive Grand
Alliance (APGA) political party,
Victor Umeh, and a host of other
noteworthy personalities.
Sir Emeka Offor had recently
donated $1 million to Rotary
International Polio Plus Campaign,
to aid in the eradication of the
disease. This was not his first
donation to the cause, as he has
Sir. Emeke Offor display his End Polio Award presented to him by RI President Elect, Gary Haung.
been an active donor, with a prior
donation of over $250,000 to the
cause, and further donations in the
excess of $750,000 to Rotary's
three other cardinal projects. The
Polio Plus project is now focused on
the three remaining countries where
Polio remains endemic;
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.
Sir Offor was presented a plaque
commemorating his appointment by
the Former Rotary International
President, Jon Majiyagbe and the
President-Elect 2014, Gary Huang.
On receiving the commemoration,
he thanked Rotary International for
the honour bestowed him and
reiterated his faith in the success of
the project, saying, "Eradication of
Polio in Nigeria is doable and
together we would be able to
achieve it.”
Indian philanthropist boosts Rotary's push
to end polio with new US$1 million gift
I
ndian philanthropist and
businesswoman, Rajashree
Birla, has announced a new
$1 million gift to Rotary for polio
eradication.
Indian philanthropist and
businesswoman Rajashree
Birla has announced a new gift
of US$1 million to Rotary to
help eradicate polio. The gift
brings her total contributions to
the Rotary effort to more than
$7.2 million.
What's more, this gift will be
matched two-for-one by the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation, Rajashree Birla
resulting in $3 million in new funding public awareness. Through the End
for the Global Polio Eradication Polio Now: Make History Today
Initiative (GPEI). Rotary is a leading fundraising campaign, the Gates
partner in the GPEI, especially in Foundation is matching two-for-one
advocating government and donor every new dollar Rotary commits to
support, fundraising, and building polio eradication, up to $35 million
per year, from 2013 through
2018.
“Mrs. Birla's generous gift is
deeply appreciated and could
not have come at a more
opportune time in our fight to
end polio once and for all,” says
Ashok Mahajan, a former
Rotary Foundation trustee and
close friend of the Birla family.
“Her generosity no doubt will
inspire other private donors to
step up and help Rotary take
full advantage of our innovative
partnership with the Gates
Foundation.”
Birla's gift underscores India's
commitment to remain polio free.
India -- which some experts
believed would be the last nation to
beat polio -- hasn't recorded a case
of the disease since January 2011.
PolioPlus
6
October, 2013.
4. Q: Is the polio vaccine safe for
children, including sick ones?
A: Yes. The Oral Polio Vaccine
(OPV) is the safest and most
effective way to protect children
from polio. Even when given many
times, the polio vaccine is safe and
effective in providing protection
against polio, and is the
recommended vaccine for the
global eradication of polio. Children
sick with another illness can still be
given the polio vaccine as there is
no harmful effect.
5. Q: Are other Muslim countries
using the same polio vaccine?
A: The Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)
used in Nigeria is exactly the same
as that being used in all other
countries of the world for polio
eradication efforts. The
Governments of Saudi Arabia,
Indonesia, Egypt and Yemen are all
using the same vaccine as that
being used in Nigeria. All of these
countries have successfully
contained the spread of the virus.
For instance, Saudi Arabia has
celebrated 10 years with no polio
cases.
6. Q: How many doses of OPV does
a child need before they are
protected from polio infection?
A: The Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)
needs to be administered several
times to be fully effective. Each and
every child under the age of five
years needs to receive the vaccine
during each round. The number of
doses a child needs to receive in
order to be fully protected against
polio depends entirely on the child's
health and nutritional status, as well
as the number of other
viruses that the child has
been exposed to. No child is
safe if there is one child
under the age of five years
who is underimmunized. This
is why every child must be
immunized during every
immunization campaign
against polio. Every missed
child is a place for the
poliovirus to hide and spread
even if that child does not get
sick with polio. For as long as
the polio virus is in Nigeria
every child needs to take the
vaccine every round.
7. Q: Is it safe to administer
Rotary International
so many doses of OPV to children?
A: Yes, it is safe and it is very
important to administer multiple
doses of polio vaccine to children.
The vaccine requires multiple
administrations to ensure full
protection. In the tropical climate
where the weather is hot and
sanitation system is poor, several
doses of polio vaccine are required
for a child to be fully protected sometimes more than ten. This
vaccine is safe for all children. Each
additional dose further strengthens
a child's immunity level against
polio and ensures that the child
does not act as a carrier of the virus.
8. Q: Why do some children with
multiple doses of Oral Polio Vaccine
still come down with polio?
A: A child's ability to convert the
Oral Polio Vaccine into immunity
depends upon his or her living
circumstances. In temperate
climates or industrialized countries
with excellent sanitation and health
systems, it takes at least three
doses of the polio vaccine for a child
to reach immunity level and ensure
safety from the polio virus. In
tropical environments or in the
developing countries like Nigeria
where some children may be
malnourished, sanitation systems
are inadequate and immunity levels
low, it can often take more than ten
doses of the vaccine to reach the
same level of immunity. Most of the
children who still come down with
polio are under-immunized,
meaning they received fewer than
the number of doses thought
necessary to protect children in their
Poliost p
circumstances from the virus.
As many as 4 or 5 out of every 100
children fail to develop required
immunity after multiple doses and
can still come down with polio. If
these children live in communities
where vaccination coverage is low,
they have a high risk of exposure
and infection. As the number of
children repeatedly missed during
immunization campaigns goes
down, the children at risk are those
who have not reached their
immunity level. The only way to
ensure that no child comes down
with polio is to ensure that each and
every child is immunised every
round.
9. Q: Is the polio vaccine in Nigeria
effective in preventing polio?
A: Yes. The estimated annual
number of polio cases in Nigeria in
the mid-1980s was 20,000-30,000.
Extensive use of the polio vaccine
during campaigns, particularly in
the last 10 years, has led to a 99.9%
decrease in the number of cases.
This shows that the vaccine is very
effective.
10. Q: Is the vaccine tested in
Nigeria before being used?
A: All batches of vaccine are tested
for quality before use. The polio
vaccine loses potency if exposed to
heat for prolonged periods of time.
For that reason each vial has a
vaccine vial monitor (VVM), a heat
sensitive label, which indicates if the
vaccine has been exposed to heat.
All personnel working in the polio
eradication campaign are trained to
examine the monitor and discard
any vaccine that might be
weakened from exposure to
heat. All polio vaccines
supplied by UNICEF include
the vaccine vial monitor since
1997.
11. Q: Are there any harmful
additives in the polio vaccine
used in Nigeria?
A: No, the polio vaccine
used in Nigeria is purchased
from facilities that have been
carefully evaluated by WHO.
All vaccines, including the
polio vaccines, which are
procured by UN agencies,
must meet rigorous qualitycontrol specifications, which
govern the exact contents
PolioPlus
Rotary International
Poliost p
used in the production of
the polio vaccine and
ensure the purity of the
vaccine. This ensures that
the polio vaccine cannot
contain any harmful
additives.
12. Q: Why are the polio
campaigns held so
frequently?
A: O n e o f t h e m a i n
reasons national
immunization campaigns
are held so frequently is
that this gives more
chance for the uptake of
the vaccine in the child's intestine. If
too much time is taken between
campaigns, the wild virus can have
a chance to infect non-immunized
children. When children are given
the polio vaccine, it provides some
immediate protection by not
allowing the virus to reproduce in
the child's intestine. Since the virus
does not survive in the environment
for long period, it cannot be passed
on to other children. If the virus has
no place to live, it dies out in that
area. That is why all children under
five years of age must receive the
polio vaccine during every
campaign. Globally experience has
shown that in the end stages of
eradication, if campaigns are held
less frequently, the chances of an
outbreak are increased.
13.
Q: Is it necessary to
vaccinate the children for routine
immunization if they have been
vaccinated in every polio
campaign?
A: Yes, polio campaigns are
supplementary and not a substitute
for routine immunization. All
children should receive all the
doses outlined in the routine
immunization schedule which
protects against 7 diseases, in
addition to polio.
14. Q: The attention being given to
polio is so much. Is this same level
of attention being given to other
diseases?
A: Attention is being given to all
diseases but it is particularly
important to emphasize polio for the
following reasons:
a. Polio is one of only a few
communicable diseases which can
be completely eradicated because
October, 2013.
humans are the only host (as was
the case with smallpox). It also has
a safe and effective vaccine which is
not the case with most diseases.
The virus does not survive for
extended periods of time in the
environment, and while it is
contagious, its infection period is
relatively short. Global evidence
suggests that through repeated
immunization campaigns with the
polio vaccine, polio can be
completely eliminated. The fact that
polio remains endemic in only 3
countries of the world,
demonstrates the effectiveness of
this strategy. In addition, efforts to
eradicate polio can and should lay
the groundwork to address other
important health and social issues
in Nigeria. Polio eradication
activities are helping to strengthen
routine health services.
b. It kills and causes permanent
paralysis in our children. By
paralyzing them it reduces their
ability to help themselves, it causes
them avoidable hardship and
reduces their ability to contribute
effectively in our communities
compared to if they were not
paralyzed.
c. The whole world has almost
eradicated polio just like it banished
small pox forever; Only Nigeria and
two other countries, are left;
therefore if we redouble our efforts,
we can also banish polio and focus
the money and efforts to banish
other diseases such as Measles
which is also important and we are
also giving vaccine against; you will
agree that because of the vaccines,
Measles cases are reducing in our
communities but for us to also
completely banish Measles, we
7
have to finish polio and
then face other disease
such as malaria,
meningitis, pneumonia,
and diarrhoea, squarely.
d. Other important
diseases that we are
fighting with free drugs
include leprosy, river
blindness, guinea worm
(which has almost been
eradicated), free bed nets
against malaria, free
routine immunization
vaccines and free drugs
for people with HIV/AIDS
15. Q: The masses buy even simple
drugs like Paracetamol and pay for
hospital cards before seeing a
doctor. But polio is free-why?
A: Polio is cheaper to prevent than
to cure. It is cheaper for you to
prevent paralysis than to try and
cure it. It is mostly money that we
pay as tax that is used to buy the
vaccines we use. All vaccines
against diseases such as measles,
tuberculosis, hepatitis and polio are
free because it is cheaper to give
the vaccines than to try and cure the
diseases when they happen, this is
apart from the human suffering.
When our children don't take the
vaccine, then they fall sick: we have
to leave our work, pay for transport
to go to the clinic, pay for card to see
the doctor, pay for medicines, and
pay for some operations; whereas
the illness could have been
prevented by a drug that is brought
free to your house or available in a
clinic that is near your house.
16. Q: Does the polio programme,
by any means, have a linkage with
family planning?
A: No. The Oral Polio Vaccine
being used in Nigeria is the same
being used in rest of the world to
stop polio transmission. The
vaccine does not cause infertility
and has no side effects. The census
figures shows that Nigeria's
population has been growing even
faster than that of any other country
in this region in spite of the fact that
the polio eradication programme
and other immunizations against
childhood diseases has been going
on for quite some time. If you ask
people who took the vaccine while
they were children, they will tell you
PolioPlus
8
October, 2013.
they are having children On the
contrary, the census figures show
that we in Nigeria are having more
children than most other countries.
The polio program and other
immunizations against childhood
diseases have been going on for
quite some time. If you ask people
who took the vaccine while they
were children, they will tell you they
are having children.
17. Q: When will the government
stop giving children OPV?
A: We will stop giving OPV when
every child is protected from the
threat of becoming paralyzed by
polio. This is why we must give
many rounds of OPV to ensure all
children are reached with enough
doses that will protect them forever.
Also, once we stop seeing any
children that are paralyzed by polio
in Nigeria, then we know we have
succeeded in finishing polio the way
our parents and grandparents
finished small pox. Then we shall
stop vaccinations against polio the
way we have stopped vaccinations
against small pox.
18. Q: Why is the OPV
given only to children
under the age of five
years?
A: Children under the
age of five years are the
most likely to get polio;
once they are given the
vaccine, it protects them
from the disease. All
vaccines are given to
children while they are still
under 5 years old.
19. Q: Why is the polio
programme a door to door
programme?
A: The polio program
goes door to door so that
every child can be
reached with the vaccine
and that no child is
missed. If too many
children are missed
during campaigns the
virus will continue to
circulate in these children
putting all others at risk.
Going house to house is
essential to ensure
reduction in the number of
children who may be
missed.
Rotary International
20. Q: Why are polio vaccines free
and given up to people's houses
when drugs are not free at
hospitals?
A: There is a difference between
community and public health work
and community health work.
Community health work is done at
community level, targeting diseases
that spread, and vaccines are free
at point of delivery. It has been so
since time immemorial. Public
health service is obtained in
hospitals and it may not be free.
21. Q: Polio is not the people's felt
needs at the moment. Why is it a top
priority for the government?
A: People have many priorities
depending on their unique situation.
For some people, it may be drinking
water, for others it may be electricity
or roads. However, if possible,
everyone will like to have all three of
these amenities that I have
mentioned. Some people have all
three; others have two while some
have only one. As with all things in
life, we have to assess all our
challenges, rank them from the
Poliost p
easiest to the most difficult, and then
confront the one that we can tackle
easily first, gradually as we finish
the easier ones, then we take on the
more difficult tasks with time. As
people understand that polio is
preventable, they have started also
appreciating that it is a felt need.
Until they understand that polio kills
children and paralyzes others,
people will still feel it is better to
have a road than to protect a child
from dying or becoming paralyzed.
Both are important but some
become more important than others
when we gain a better
understanding of how it affects
everyone. Government is interested
in finishing polio because, we are at
a stage where it is relatively easy to
finish the job; just like we joined our
hands with other countries to finish
small pox.
22. Q: Does a new-born baby need
polio vaccination even before
his/her naming ceremony?
A: Ye s a n e w - b o r n n e e d s
protection against polio because
the vaccine should get to the child
before the germ that
causes the disease gets
to the child; the earlier the
child gets the vaccine, the
better since the polio
germ is everywhere in the
environment. All
unimmunized children are
at risk, including newborns.
23. Q: Sometimes
children over five years
are vaccinated. Why?
A: The polio vaccine is
for children under five
years of age. Some
parents are not very sure
about the exact age of
their child. It is better to
vaccinate in case there is
doubt that the child may
be under five years of
age. Vaccinating a child
who is more than five
years old does not affect
the child but if the child is
not given the dose for fear
that he/she is more than
five years, he may get the
disease if he had not been
fully immunized and fully
protected.
PolioPlus
Rotary International
Poliost p
24. Q: How can one be sure of the
safety of the vaccine?
A: The polio vaccine is the safest
and most effective way to protect
children from polio. Given multiple
times, the polio vaccine is safe and
effective in providing protection
against polio, and is the
recommended vaccine for the
global eradication of polio. The polio
vaccine has been administered to
more than 2 billion children across
125 countries around the world as
part of the eradication programme.
Since the launch of the polio
vaccine programme in 1988, the
number of polio cases has been
reduced by 99 per cent globally,
sparing at least 5 million children
from total paralysis and permanent
disability. Children sick with another
illness must still be given the polio
vaccine as there is no harmful
October, 2013.
effect. OPV is safe and it is very
important to administer multiple
doses of polio vaccine to children.
The vaccine is designed to be
administered multiple times to
ensure full protection. In the tropics
where the weather is hot and
sanitation systems are poor, several
doses of polio vaccine are required
for a child to be fully protected sometimes more than ten. This
vaccine is safe for all children. Each
additional dose further strengthens
a child's immunity level against
polio.
You can be sure of the vaccine
because when you look round,
there are respectable people in the
society like the Sultan of Sokoto, the
Emir of Kano, Aliko Dangote, our
religious leaders and others who
have vaccinated their children and
grand-children with the oral polio
9
vaccine in public. If the vaccine
were not safe, they will not give it to
their loved ones.
25. Q: Do the Federal Ministry of
Health and other agencies at
federal and states levels have a
reliable database of all households
visited by the vaccination workers
and number of children immunized
from the beginning of recent Polio
Eradication campaign to date?
A: Yes, the NPHCDA has a
database for immunization
nationwide. It is this same database
that provides guidance on the
number rounds per year, number of
States, LGAs, Wards, households,
number of eligible children, nature,
antigen (type of OPV either TOPV;
BOPV; or MOPV) and also where
mop-up or repeat immunization
needs to done.
Indian philanthropist boosts Rotary's push to end polio with new US$1 million gift
Only Nigeria, Pakistan, and
Afghanistan remain on the list of
countries where the wild poliovirus
has never been stopped. India's
nearly 3,200 Rotary clubs have
been instrumental in supporting
National Immunization Days,
massive initiatives that reach nearly
175 million children under age 5 with
the oral polio vaccine.
“Thanks to the efforts of Rotary and
its partners -- including India's
Health Ministry, WHO [World Health
Organization], UNICEF, CDC [U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention], the Gates Foundation,
and other organizations -- India
continues to be free of polio,” says
Birla, whose son, Kumar Mangalam
Birla, has transformed the Aditya
Birla Group into a Fortune 500
global conglomerate. “Now we owe
it to humanity to see that Nigeria,
Afghanistan, and Pakistan also
become polio free in the near
future.”
Nigeria, Soon to be Polio Free - UNICEF
UNICEF has declared that Nigeria
was on the verge of being declared
polio-free.
UNICEF Nigeria Country
Representative, Mrs Jean Gough,
disclosed this in Sokoto on Friday.
Gough spoke when she addressed
the planning meeting of the
members of the Journalists Against
Polio ( JAP), for the September
2013 sub-polio immunisation plus
days ( SIPDs).
“Nigeria is in the eyes of the world
as we are close to the end of the last
journey and it is the most difficult.
'' More efforts should be in this
direction to ensure the success of
the last game. Polio is debilitating
and it is a killer,'' she said.
The UNICEF boss also maintained
that polio eradication was possible
in Nigeria.
“ The media, government,
communities and
other stakeholders
are crucial in
ensuring the
success of the fight
against polio .
Gough also said
UNICEF was
determined to
continue with its
activities in other
areas like tackling
s c o u r g e o f
malnutrition, water
and sanitation,
among others.
Also speaking, the Commissioner
for Health, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu,
commended UNICEF for being a
“dependable and worthy,'' partner to
Sokoto State. ( NAN)
PolioPlus
10
October, 2013.
Rotary International
Poliost p
Rotary Supports Sept SIPDs, As Past RI President Wilkinson Immunised Children In K
Tunji Funsho, the field coordinator
Kaduna state and some Rotarians in
the state. Also the secretary
NNPPC, Mr Obafunsho Ogunkeye
also contributed his own quota to the
success of the September IPD by
participating in the program at
Sokoto South Lga.
The Past Rotary International
President Wilfrid Wilkinson who
arrived Nigeria on Monday the 2nd
on an advocacy visit for polio
eradication in Nigeria attended the
KFW Germany funding meeting with
NPHCDA on the PEI where he had
the privilege to commend the
collaborative efforts of all the
partners on the success so far
achieved in country on PEI. He
emphasized on the fact that Nigeria
will have to take ownership for the
funding by sourcing funds in country
amongst the Private and Public
sector in order to see through the
last lap of polio eradication in the
country.
Mr. Wilkinson used the opportunity
to pay a courtesy and advocacy visit
to the Governor of CBN Mallam
Sanusi Lamido, whom he urged to
Update on 2nd Round
of Polio Corrective
Surgery coming soon.
team to conduct a 2nd round of
corrective polio surgery in Nigeria
due to the huge success of the 1st
round done last year.
The planning meeting commenced
between NPHCDA and the NNPPC
team led by Dr Mustapha, both
parties expressed fresh
commitment to the tasks and
agreed on clear responsibilities of
each team and an MOU to be
developed for both parties to sign.
T
he 2nd round of corrective
polio surgery has been slated
to hold before the end of this
year. This was in response to a
request from the NPHCDA to help
invite the Indian Rotary medical
Cycling Against Polio
A
s p a r t o f
programmes to
commemorate
the annual World Polio
day on October 24 and
create awareness on
the deadly polio
scourge responsible
for scores of child
mortality cases
annually in Nigeria,
Rotary International in
Nigeria has concluded
plans to host the
nation's first ever BikeA-Thon ride on October
19, 2013.
The one-day programme is a fun
cycling ride designed to generate
interest, increase awareness and
raise funds for activities towards
total eradication of polio disease
which is endemic in Nigeria
especially in the North.
Nigeria currently remains one of the
three most polio-endemic countries
globally, alongside Afghanistan and
Pakistan.
A c c o r d i n g t o D r. Tu n j i F u n s h o ,
Chairman, Nigerian National Polio
?
Plus Committee, “Rotary has
take the lead in organizing funds
commitment from the banking
sector and other private sectors in
the country for PEI. He also paid
advocacy visits to sir Emeka offor
and the Minster of Petroleum
Princess Stella Oduah.
Other
places visited include a courtesy call
to President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan, the Emir of Kano, and the
Kaduna south Lga. He was
accompanied by the executive team
of the NNPPC.
around the Lekki axis in Lagos and
will feature registered participants
including Rotary club members,
committed itself to join Cycology riding club members and
f o r c e s w i t h o t h e r others in a 5km, 10km and 50km
partners to champion exhibition ride aimed at tackling
the efforts to eradicate polio disease. It will also feature a
polio in Nigeria. It is variety of activities including cycling
therefore partnering stunts, colourful displays and other
w i t h C y c o l o g y, a physical demonstrations.”
foremost cycling club in He noted that the Bike-A-Thon route
Lagos for this year's will begin at the registration point at
campaign and aims to Divine Mercy Catholic Church,
draw attention of policy Lekki Phase One and follow a
makers and everyone designated route for the exhibition
to this important issue. ride while registration of participants
It will also strive to raise will start by 6am at the same venue.
funds to contribute to After registering, the riders will
the
$500 m i l l i o n choose from a variety of different
required for the total distances ranging from a 5-km trip
eradication of polio in Nigeria alone. ? to a 50-km loop. The ride is to be
Prominent personalities inclusive of completed between 7am and 10am.
the Executive Governor of Lagos The event will be followed by a
State, His Excellency, Gov. closing ceremony which will feature
Babatunde Raji Fashola, Past other activities like guest lecture on
District Governor, Adelusi Adeluyi Polio and certificate presentations
and other Nigerians from all walks of to participants.
l i f e i n c l u d i n g R o t a r y P o l i o He added: Registration is required
Ambassador, popular Nollywood a n d c a n b e d o n e o n l i n e
h ttp://www.rotary9110.org/ i or at
actress Funke Akindele will join in ?
creating awareness for Polio in a fun k i c k o f f p o i n t . T h e e n t r y f e e i s
N5000. Numerous multinationals
and practical way.
a
nd admirable brands have
Dr. Funsho announced that, “The
programme is billed to kick off 7a.m pledged to support the first ever
Bike-A-Thon event in Nigeria.
PolioPlus
Rotary International
Poliost p
October, 2013.
11
The PRIP decorating a female polio survivor with the Rotary polio campaign vest
The PRIP decorating the Kaduna South LGA Chairman with the End Polio
Now campaign pin
The PRIP paying an advocacy visit to the palace of HRH the Hakimi of
Kakuri in Kaduna State
The Chairman NNPPC immunising a child with the OPV
in a high risk LGA in Kaduna State
The PRIP and the Local Government Chairman of Kaduna South immunising
a child with the OPV in a high risk ward in Kaduna State
The PRIP Wilkinson immunizing a child in a high risk ward during the
September 2013 IPDs in Kaduna State
Rotn. Felix Arinze District Governor, District 9125,
immunizing a child during the Kaduna campaign.
The official launch of the IR banner in Kaduna State with the Commissioners of Health,
Women Affairs and Youth Development, the Kaduna South Local Government Chairman,
prominent traditional and religious leaders supporting the PRIP.
PolioPlus
12
October, 2013.
Rotary International
Poliost p
Poliostop is published monthly by the NNPPC 8, Ladoke Akintola Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
All correspondence to the NNPPC Chairman, PDG Tunji Funsho - 0817 200 0246. Editor, Deyemi Ogunkoya. Tel: 0802 341 7710. E-mail: deyemi2003@yahoo.com