Nigeria targets polio certification by 2020 nec
Nigeria has been working towards eradicating polio, a highly infectious disease that can cause paralysis and death, especially in children. The country has made significant progress in reducing polio cases, and the goal is to achieve polio certification by 2020.
Here are some key facts about Nigeria's efforts to eradicate polio:
- Polio vaccination campaign: Nigeria has been conducting regular polio vaccination campaigns since 2009, with the aim of reaching all children under the age of 5 with at least two doses of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV).
- Progress made: Between 2009 and 2018, Nigeria reported a significant decline in polio cases, from 1,242 cases in 2009 to just 39 cases in 2018.
- Remaining challenges: Despite progress, Nigeria still faces challenges in reaching all children with polio vaccine, particularly in hard-to-reach areas, such as conflict zones and remote communities.
- Nigeria's polio eradication strategy: The country's strategy involves a combination of measures, including:
- Intensified vaccination campaigns
- Improved surveillance and detection of polio cases
- Strengthening of the cold chain (the system for storing and transporting vaccines)
- Community engagement and mobilization
- Support from international partners, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF
- Certification by 2020: Nigeria aims to achieve polio certification by 2020, which would mean that the country has gone three years without reporting a single case of wild poliovirus.
The Nigerian government, with support from international partners, is committed to achieving this goal and ensuring that all children in the country are protected from polio.