– The recent outbreak of polio is still a major topic around the world
– The co-founder of Microsoft Foundation, Bill Gates has given his thoughts on the issue
– His foundation has donated $3.5 billion since 2000 to eradicate polio
The world’s richest man, Bill Gates have expressed his disappointment over the recent outbreak of polio in Nigeria after no case was recorded in two years.
Gates however expressed optimism that Nigeria will be able to defeat polio, despite intense challenges that make it hard to immunize children in the most vulnerable areas.
Bill Gates and President Muhammadu Buhari during the billionaire’s visit to Nigeria last year
Gates who was speaking to Voice of America yesterday, August 17, said: “Our main challenge is that we have kids who the vaccinators have a tough time finding.”
He continued: “Reaching those kids in an insecure environment can be very complex…obviously, we’re going to need great partnerships with the governments in the region, particularly up in the northeast in Borno.
“We’re getting smarter all the time about how we find the villages, how we reach out to the traditional leaders.
“We’ve got a great team up there. The government’s working with us. We need to access kids and we need for people to understand the importance of getting all the kids to take this oral polio vaccine.”
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated $3.5 billion since 2000 to eradicate polio, and Mr Gates has been to Nigeria severally to see the progress of work done.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s minister of health, Professor Isaac Adewole says there is high risk of further spread of the recent polio outbreak to states surrounding Borno and neighbouring countries around the Lake Chad region.
There were two reported cases of the wild polio virus in Gwoza and Jere local government areas of Borno state last week. Officials say the 15-month-old boy and two-year-old girl likely will be paralyzed for the rest of their lives.
The reports sparked international concerns and condemnations as Nigeria had defeated polio and there was no report for two years until recently.
The report also validated initial reports by international agencies working in Borno state that both the federal and state governments had abandoned the Internally Displaced Persons outside Maidugiri, the state capital.
According to Professor Adewole, 56, 363, 618 children would be vaccinated between October and November this year as part of a nationwide response to the recent outbreak of polio in Nigeria.
He also said vaccination for children in the affected areas had commenced concurrently with active case search, adding that the ministry of defence is providing security for health workers during the house-to-house immunisation
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