Buhari, Dangote, Bill Gates Praised As WHO Declares Nigeria Polio Free

Nigeria has been declared free of free of polio, following the completion of documentation for the free status.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) made the declaration Thursday on the Twitter handle of its regional office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo.

“Today [Thursday], Nigeria’s complete documentation for #WildPoliovirus free status was accepted by the Africa Regional Certification Commission for polio eradication (ARCC),” WHO said.

“It is a historic day for Nigeria, Africa and the Global Polio Programme!”

Today, Nigeria’s complete documentation for #WildPoliovirus free status was accepted by the Africa Regional Certification Commission for polio eradication (ARCC).

It is a historic day for Nigeria, Africa and the Global Polio Programme! pic.twitter.com/h2mEngkKXv

— WHO Nigeria (@WHONigeria) June 18, 2020

Meanwhile, the Executive Director and CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, in a tweet described the documentation as an “amazing moment in history”.

He said the feat was achieved thanks to President Muhammadu Buhari, and support from Aliko Dangote and Bill Gates.

“Amazing moment in history to have had our polio-eradication documentation accepted by (ARCC); the Nigeria team led by NPHCDA and partners demonstrated evidence of our polio-free status,” Shuaib wrote.

He went on: “Nigeria achieving a Wild Polio Virus-free status today, is significant on multiple fronts. I look back at the incredible leadership that has brought us here.

“Apart from President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, the two most important people who have made it possible due to their financial and technological contributions have been Mr Aliko Dangote and Mr Bill Gates.

Nigeria achieving a Wild Polio Virus-free status today, is significant on multiple fronts. I look back at the incredible leadership that has brought us here and apart from President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR pic.twitter.com/38noLfz8eP

— Dr. Faisal Shuaib (@drfaisalshuaib) June 18, 2020

“Thanks for this unquantifiable gift to Nigeria,’’ he added.

What is polio?

According to WHO, Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus.

It mainly affects children aged under five and causes paralysis.

Initial symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness of the neck and pains in the limbs.

One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis. Among those paralysed, 5% to 10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilised.

Nigeria is the last country in Africa to have witnessed a case of polio, according to the BBC.