• No Type3 Polio Virus For Six Months
• Adopts Special Strategies To Address Vaccine
•Rejection, Insecurity Of Health Workers In The North
NIGERIA Friday at the 66th World Health Assembly (WHA) told other delegates that the country has been able to reduce the number of Wild Polio Cases (WPV) by 67 per cent from 48 this time last year to 22 cases now.
Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Gana Muhammad, Friday in a statement to the Assembly said no type three polio virus (WPV3) has been reported since November last year, the number of circulating genotype from 14 strains to two that type one (WPV1) and type two (WPV2) and the North West is no longer an epicenter of polio.
Muhammad also asked the WHA for easier approach to use vaccine products that can be administered by almost anyone and generation of new technologies for delivering vaccines in the most simplified way possible to reach more children.
He, however, said while Nigeria wishes to accelerate the use of newest vaccines, it is worthy to note that new vaccines are much more costly than the traditional antigens.
Muhammad said the cost of the basic package to vaccinate a child has risen rapidly, and there is minimal global guidance for tracking vaccine prices. He noted that monitoring vaccine prices and setting global norms for the cost of vaccines is an important tool that will enable us to prepare for financing our programme.
Muhammad urged the Secretariat to continue its work to develop indicators within the Global Vaccine Action Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Framework that track vaccine prices.
The NPHCDA boss who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said: "As a consequence of these efforts by the Federal Government and partners there has been 67 per cent reduction in the number of WPV as compared to similar period in 2012. No type3 WPV in the country for six months now. The North-west is no longer an epicenter. Circulating genotype has collapsed from 14 to two. There has been improvement in the quality of the campaign as judged by less and less number of children missed at each round."
Muhammad, however, admitted that the country still have challenges. "Security has been of concern in specific areas in the two North East (NE) states of Borno especially in the ten Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Yobe, where state of emergency have been declared. Normalcy have however started to return in the areas, while, with the cooperation of and collaboration with the security team we are already moving to provide required services, especially polio and other immunization," he said.
He said the government has put in place some special strategies/tactics for the North, especially in the North-east.
Muhammad said although the country has made significant improvements in her Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) programme, she is still faced with many obstacles in reaching 'the last two children'. Vaccine products that are easier-to-use are needed.
On the call for easier to use vaccines, Muhammad said: "In Nigeria, our cold chain is adequate at the national and zonal levels but there are gaps at district, LGA and communities levels.
There are efforts to revitalize the cold chain system, but vaccine products that are more thermostable are critically needed. Polio eradication has also taught us a lot about extending coverage with easier-to-use tools; such as an oral vaccine that can be administered by almost anyone.
"We look to the Decade of Vaccines to help generate new technologies for delivering vaccines in the most simplified way possible. Simpler vaccine tools will help us reach more children. While we are celebrating the introduction of pentavalent vaccine, we are also looking forward to the next newest vaccines, such as that against pneumonia and rotavirus.
"Nigeria has been approved for Global Alliance for Vaccines (GAVI) support to introduce pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, and plans phased introduction commencing in fourth quarter of 2013."
The Guardian
I think we really have to address this disease called Polio. It's caused so many havoc in our society.