The Rotary International Polio Plus Committee and the Oyo State Government met on Wednesday to evolve strategies for the eradication of polio in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Yinka Babalola, the leader of the Rotary delegation, said the team was on an advocacy visit to Gov. Seyi Makinde.
Babalola said the visit was to bring to the attention of the governor issues concerning polio eradication in the state
He said eradicating polio worldwide was a Rotary-driven initiative, adding that the organisation had commitments toward making every child polio-free globally.
According to him, the geographical spread of polio has reduced to only Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.
He disclosed that Nigeria was close to the final eradication of polio, stressing that the country was moving toward the end of the epidemic.
Babalola, however, warned stakeholders not to relent in the battle against polio.
Dr Tunji Funsho, a member of the delegation, urged the state government to be more committed toward polio eradication.
”Oyo State has not recorded any case of polio for 10 years but there are risks; the risk is that the state is surrounded by states with issues of vaccines deprived polio still paralysing children.
”That is the reason it is good to beef up security as far as polio eradication is concerned through strengthening routine polio immunisation,” he said.
In his remarks, Makinde assured the delegation that his government was committed to polio eradication as well as adequate health care delivery.
He promised the team that the issue of counterpart funding and other support would be given attention.
