Polio Eradication Update
On The Ground In Nigeria - Thanks to Rotarians in Nigeria, including PDG Chris Offer who sent this update yesterday, Rotary's response to the outbreak in Borno, Nigeria is underway - "Today our polio surveillance team visited a local health office, a hospital and small village about 100 km from Kano, Nigeria. The task was to review the records related to AFP (Acute Flaccid Paralysis). This is the primary indicator of polio. The paralysis of the legs and arms can be caused by several medical conditions including polio. The team members are from WHO, Gates Foundation and state health officer. We check that the health workers are looking for cases of AFP and doing the correct follow up including collecting stool samples for analysis. We found good records and follow up with only a few errors. We always attract curious children. The children are a good reminder of the purpose of the polio campaign and Rotary’s promise to these children." PDG Chris Offer
A Message from Michael K. McGovern - Chairman, International PolioPlus Committee
The World Health Organization has confirmed two cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Nigeria, the first cases in the country since July 2014. After passing a year without a case of the wild poliovirus, Nigeria was removed from the list of polio-endemic countries in September 2015. These cases – from two local government areas of Borno state – occurred in July 2016.
The Government of Nigeria – in partnership with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative – will take immediate steps to respond quickly to the outbreak to prevent further spread of the disease. This response will include emergency vaccination campaigns to boost immunity in impacted and at-risk areas, and reinforced surveillance activities to ensure we detect all strains of polio. Because polio knows no borders, steps will also be taken to protect surrounding countries, to ensure all children are vaccinated and to reduce the risk of the spread of the disease.
This news is disappointing for all Rotary members - and particularly those in Nigeria - who worked so hard to help the country stop polio. However, Rotary remains steadfast and fully committed to fighting polio anywhere children remain at risk, including Nigeria and Africa.
Rotary members remain resilient in the face of challenges. Today, we roll up our sleeves and redouble our effort to rid the world of this devastating disease. Rotary members in Nigeria are already hard at work to support the outbreak response, and our network will also be tapped to quickly protect children in surrounding countries.
The World Health Organization is confident Nigeria can end polio. The program has overcome outbreaks before, and we have the tools to do so again in Nigeria. Rotary will not stop its efforts to ensure that every child is born into a polio-free world where they are safe from this paralyzing disease.