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A KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE GOVERNOR OF EKITI STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, DR KAYODE FAYEMI AT THE GOVERNOR’S

STAKEHOLDERS’ FORUM ON POLIO ERADICATION IN EKITI STATE HELD AT THE FAJUYI PARK, ADO EKITI ON 15TH AUGUST, 2011

PROTOCOLS

I welcome you all to this very important stakeholders’

meeting on the sustenance of our no-polio endemic status of Ekiti

State. The presentation by our resource person as well as the

welcome address by the Honourable Commissioner for Health

have intimated us with the situation of Polio Eradication in the

world and more importantly how Nigeria still rank among the

endemic countries of wild polio virus transmission across the

world. The picture, as painted is a painful reminder of stuntness

in the growth of a nation with so many potentials to have robust

development.

The effects of polio endemic are very traumatic. I recalled

that when we were younger, even though many of us did not

know what happened to some of our colleagues then, as children,

we once had schoolmates who suddenly became paralysed. With

time, they could not do the things that we were hitherto able to do

 

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together. They could not run as fast as we used to.

They could not jump as high as we did. They could not play

football. They needed special care; special shoes and some of

them needed crutches. Today, we know better.

Let us remind ourselves that we, as parents, chose life for

our children, they did not make the choice. Having made that

choice for our children, we must take that critical step to make it, a

life without pain, and a life without trauma. I am happy that this

State is wild polio virus free. However, I think that a stakeholders’

forum of this nature is a good forum to tell ourselves what we

need to do to sustain it, the status of the State in polio cases. A lot

of suggestions have been made on how to improve on our

performance. We will take on them as we go ahead.

Our meeting this morning is simply to demonstrate our

commitment along with other States of the Federation to kick polio

out of our country. It is true that efforts are on going, but at one of

the Governors’ Forum meetings, it was resolved that we should

set aside a day whereby Governors will lead the charge in all the

States to drive home our commitment to this course. The event

here today, is being replicated all over the country in deference to

that resolution.

 

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It is a fact that the only way to stop the

transmission of polio is through continuous vaccination and I

need not dwell too much on this obvious fact. However, we need

to remind ourselves that the eradication of polio has become a

key issue internationally and Nigeria is one of the focal points.

All hands must therefore be on deck to checkmate all

avenues for polio to find its way into Ekiti State. I appeal

passionately to our Royal Fathers, religious leaders and local

government Chairmen to be our standard bearers to fight and

ensure polio does not find its way into Ekiti State and ultimately

kick it out of Nigeria. Our teachers, market women and men,

community leaders and everybody should get on board. The

service is free, the vaccine is safe and it is effective.

In Ekiti State, we would strengthen the routine immunization

and support all supplemental immunization activities. I charge all

local governments to support immunization programmes

adequately to ensure that every child is reached for adequate

coverage. All the stakeholders should support the government in

identifying the unimmunized children within our communities for

the purpose of immunizing them so that they don’t remain as

potential danger to the immunized children. I wish to

acknowledge with thanks the immense support we receive from

World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Rotary International and

 

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National Primary Health Care Development Agency

among others. We have demonstrated a will to sustain our

present status and I am encouraged by the enthusiasm

expressed by you all in this regard.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the war against polio in

Nigeria is on, don’t allow polio in your home, don’t allow it in your

community and don’t allow it in Ekiti, Ile Iyi, Ile Eye.

Thank you and God bless.