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Nigeria is currently experiencing an intense transmission of the circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2), with 70 cases recorded across 46 local government areas in 14 northern states, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has revealed.
Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the NPHCDA, disclosed this alarming situation on Monday during a meeting with religious leaders in Abuja, organized in collaboration with the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development.
Dr. Aina attributed the spread of the virus to low routine immunization rates and vaccine refusals during polio campaigns. He urged a renewed commitment to ensuring widespread vaccination coverage and improving maternal and child health services. “This must change,” Dr. Aina said. “We must ensure that every woman has access to antenatal care, that every child completes their routine immunization, and that no mother or child is left behind.”
In his address, Dr. Aina called on religious leaders to play a pivotal role in promoting vaccinations and healthcare within their communities. “As trusted leaders, you have the power to dispel myths, correct misinformation, and encourage positive health-seeking behaviors,” he said, emphasizing the need for equitable access to health services.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, also spoke at the event, commending religious and traditional leaders for their efforts in mobilizing communities for health interventions, including the eradication of the wild poliovirus. He encouraged leaders to continue their support by providing zakat and tithes to aid health interventions for the less privileged.
The meeting highlighted the critical need to tackle barriers to healthcare in rural and underserved areas, particularly in Northern Nigeria, where maternal and child health challenges persist. Dr. Aina noted that Nigeria loses approximately 2,300 children under five and 145 women of childbearing age daily due to preventable causes, with many of these deaths occurring in the North.
The NPHCDA reiterated its commitment to working with community leaders to ensure that every Nigerian child is immunized, and every mother receives the care she needs to survive childbirth and ensure her child’s well-being.
