NPHCDA says 83 cases of polio variants recorded across 14 states
The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, while marking 2024 World Polio Day has confirmed that 83 cases of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) were recorded across 14 states in the Federation.
It was recorded that 64 of the 83 cases were Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP), while 19 were found in Environmental Sites (ES).
In commemoration of this year’s World Polio Day themed “A Chance for Reflection and a Reminder to Reach Every Child”, The executive director of the NPHCDA, Dr Muyi Aina noted that the current figure is positive as it highlights a 35 per cent reduction in cases recorded within the same period in 2023.
He also noted that the progress made will not result in complacency, as the agency is focused on eradicating the transmission of cVPV2 completely.
While still speaking, the agency’s Executive Director also said in an attempt to bridge the immunisation gap in states where cVPV2 is being recorded, the agency initiated the Identify, Enumerate, and Vaccinate (IEV) strategy to ensure accurate microplanning and enable them to track and vaccinate children who didn’t get vaccinated in order to curb the spread adequately.
According to him, “We have commenced IEV in 109 very high-risk wards to improve the quality of Polio campaigns, and we have digitally enumerated 907,329 under five years old children, out of which we have tracked and vaccinated 793,075 children. We have also reached 67 per cent of previously unreached children across 14 States where we have conducted campaigns this year”.
In a positive light, it is worthy to note that wild Polio virus (WPV) was prevalent in the country, but has since been eradicated with no recorded case since 2020.
