The Adamawa state government has called for improved surveillance and continues routine immunization against polio to consolidate on the gains achieved against the dread disease.

The state Executive Chairman of the Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Suleiman Bashir, while speaking at an event sponsored by UNICEF to commemorate World Polio Day at the specialists hospital, Yola, said the day comes with an opportunity for stakeholders to be reminded on the need for continues awareness campaigns against polio and its effects, as well as appreciate the efforts of the role played by stakeholders in ensuring that Nigeria and indeed Africa is certified polio free.

” This day is very important to remind us of the role we should continue to play to kick polio out of Nigeria by vaccinating our children, increased surveillance and do all the needful expected for us to remain polio free and to have a world free of polio,” he said.

The representative of the World Health Organisation in the state, Dr Iyobosa Igbinovia described the 2020 commemoration as unique because of the fact that Nigeria is celebrating the end of Polio though there are still cases in some parts of the world.

He called for a concerted efforts by all stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria remains at zero level of polio.

” We must strengthen surveillance and ensure that our children go to the hospital for immunization, ensure that also take vaccines when any campaign comes up. This state has worked hard to ensure that there is no single polio case for over 11 years and everyone here has a duty to ensure that it remains so. The work is not over until the entire world celebrates freedom from polio”, he stressed.

Vice chairman, Yola north local government, Hon. Paul Buba calls for improved sensitization on the need for continues immunization against polio to ensure that Africa and Nigeria remains polio free.

” We are encouraging parents not to forget to bring their children to hospitals and health care centres for immunization whenever they are called upon. Our doors are wide open to partner with all relevant stakeholders to provide good health facilities and services to the people of Yola north local government,” he said.

The representative of the People Living With Disability, John Anthony advised parents to always ensure their children are immunized.