Sultan Urges Traditional Rulers to Ensure Nigeria is Certified Polio-free by 2017
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday urged traditional leaders in the North, to redouble efforts to ensure that Nigeria is declared polio-free in the next two years.
He also said the removal of Nigeria on the list of polio endemic countries had vindicated traditional rulers as lovers of their subjects.
Speaking at the meeting of Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Healthcare at his palace in Sokoto yesterday, the monarch said the delisting of Nigeria among polio endemic countries by the World Health Organisation should not make the traditional leaders to be complacent.
According to him, it had become necessary for the traditional leaders in the North, to intensify efforts to ensure that Nigeria is certified polio-free by 2017.
The monarch reiterated that the fight was not over until polio was put in the dustbin of history.
“It is true that Nigeria has been delisted among polio-endemic countries but it has not been declared polio-free. So, the real fight is now and we should not allow our six years partnership to go down the drain.
“So, we should redouble efforts in this regard so that by 2017, Nigeria would be certified polio-free,” the monarch said.
He said their intervention was no for any material gain but to ensure that the people are healthier and productive.
The monarch also said gone were the days when traditional rulers would shy away from the state of the hospitals, urging members of the committee to make sure medical facilities were made available to their people.
“We should continue to support our governors to fight malaria, maternal mortality and the other six child- killer diseases,” he stated.
In a remark, the Executive Secretary of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ado Muhammad, said no single case of polio was recorded in the country in the last one year.
He attributed the success achieved in the fight against polio eradication in the country, to the efforts of traditional leaders.
“The world is applauding the partnership between the traditional institution and government in the fight against polio. We still have a long way to go, as it would take another two years of strenuous efforts for Nigeria to be declared polio-free,” he said.
He told the monarchs that the agency would continue with massive campaigns and effective supervision to ensure the attainment of the desired goals.
Also speaking, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, commended traditional leaders for their efforts in mobilising their subjects against the polio scourge and other child killer diseases.