Gate, Dangote, Northern govs sign MoU on polio

Gate, Dangote, Northern govs sign MoU on polio

By Shola Ojo, Kaduna

WORLD richest man, Bill Gate, his African counterpart, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and six Northern Governors, yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on eradication of Polio meliatis in their respective states.

Kaduna State Governors, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, who spoke on behalf of other governors stressed that immunizing a child should be simple and routine though, decried the general health system in the country, saying it has not been invested with the capacity to consistently provide even routine services at a high standard. He then expressed optimism that new partnership will reverse the trend. 

El-Rufai said, “the business before us today is about achieving the highest calling of government: to create every opportunity for all families to live healthy and productive lives. 

“There are many ways in which we as State Governors are trying to do this and they are all inter-related. These include creating employment, improving educational opportunities for all particularly, our girls and building accountability and sustainability in the health system as well as getting life-saving vaccines to children to prevent killer diseases such as measles and pertussis.  

“As State Governors, it is evident from the contributions of my colleagues that our key strategy is to ensure that a reliable supply of vaccines is delivered in the right quantities at the right time, with sustained potency, to our health facilities. And if we can do that for vaccines, we can deploy same for every other health commodity our people need. 

“Second, we have to ensure our health workers are well trained, managed, supervised and deployed in a rationale way. That’s particularly important when it comes to fighting infectious diseases, such as measles.

“Our goal in Kaduna State, for instance, is to achieve more than 80% coverage in every ward. So it won’t work if we provide immunization here in Kaduna, but fail to reach all children in far way Sanga.”

In an address, American Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, disclosed that the United States Government was joining Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Dangote Foundation in the strong pursuit to end vaccine-preventable child deaths in Nigeria.

The American Ambassador however commended the six State Government, saying, “this occasion demonstrates the willingness and commitment of your governments and organisations to tackle the challenges to achieving these goals.

In a remark, Chairman, Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, appealed to Federal Government to continue to work closely with the states to provide routine and new vaccines and other health commodities promptly.

Other Governors in attendance were that of Kano, Yobe, Bauchi, Bornu and Sokoto States.

Posted from GoBroadsheet