14th Presidential Task Force On Polio Eradication & Routine Immunization

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*Condoles with family of health workers killed by Boko Haram

REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE 14TH PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON POLIO ERADICATION AND ROUTINE IMMUNIZATION MEETING HELD AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ASO VILLA ON THURSDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2018.

Protocols

I wish to sincerely thank your Excellencies, the Ministry of Health and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), for the remarkable progress that has been made in the polio programme. The fact that we have not had any case of the wild poliovirus in the last two years is excellent news and we urge the Ministry and the NPHCDA to sustain the tempo. 

The Federal Government remains resolutely committed to the crucial cause of polio eradication. Our military will continue to collaborate with you to provide security and support as you ensure that all eligible children in every part of the country are reached with the polio vaccine and other health and humanitarian interventions. On reaching children in the Lake Chad islands, we would reach out to our counterparts in Niger Republic to initiate discussions on how we can collectively reach children in the Lake Chad region.

Your Excellencies, the governors, may I urge you to collaborate even more closely with the Federal Government, especially in the timely provision of funds, rigorous oversight, and other support that would fast-track on-going efforts to eradicate polio and strengthen routine immunization. The Abuja Commitment is a promise we all made; it is now a debt that we owe to the Nigerian people.  We must individually and collectively work to achieve the Abuja Commitment indicators. 

We must all commend and appreciate the incredible work that our health workers have done and continue to do. On a daily basis, many are exposed to various risks in the course of saving lives. Many of those risks are life-threatening. And very sadly we have lost some to cold-blooded murder by Boko Haram. 

We commiserate with all the families of health workers that have lost their lives in the course of delivering services to humanity, in particular, the families of Saifura Husain Ahmed Khorsa and Hauwa Liman who were kidnapped and killed by Boko Haram.

We pray that God will give their families the fortitude to bear the great losses. We also extend sincere condolence to the ICRC whose staff the two courageous and committed ladies belonged.

We also thank our donors and development partners; we sincerely appreciate your support and confidence in this government in our efforts to improve the well-being of the citizens.

Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I thank you most sincerely and look forward to achieving polio eradication and sustained improvement in all our health indices.

Thank you so much.