Coco-bassey Esu|28 September 2016
As the war against Polio disease wages on, the Cross River State ministry of health in collaboration with the World Health Organization, Friday, went across the Nigeria-Cameroon International border to create awareness on Polio, carry out advocacy and sensitization as well as surveillance activities on Polio.
The move became very necessary after Nigeria's Polio certification drive was hit with the sudden emergence of three fresh Polio cases in Borno state, Nigeria. Borno as well as Cross River State are amongst the sixteen boarder states in the country according to the WHO boarder surveillance map.
The team which was lead by the state commissioner for health, Dr Inyang Asibong, and the WHO coordinator for Cross River State, Dr Thompson Igbu, made no mistake in delivering their message to the border surveillance authorities as well as the health workers in the neighboring communities of Ekok and Eyumojok districts of Cameroon.
While briefing newsmen at the Mfum border, Dr Asibong urged the people to be very alert, and be on the lookout for signs of the disease. She encouraged parents to ensure adequate immunization of their wards stating that most of these diseases are vaccine preventable.
The Commissioner said "Cross River State Government will continue to step up intelligence and surveillance system to curtail spread of diseases to the state, we strengthen our public health response team when there was out break of ebola and lassa fever and we will continue to be vigilant while stepping up medical treatment and preventive measures in case of any suspected spread. Ayade Care is focusing on integrating immunization and surveillance system to ensure no child is deformed by any diseases. "
She further highlighted that the recently passed Health Insurance Scheme Bill by the Ayade government tagged "Ayade Care" also includes the free immunization of children under the age of five years to further eradicate these vaccine preventable diseases, the Sustainable Development Goal 3 which is ensuring healthy life and promoting the life of all at all ages and the target 3.8 which talks about the Universal Health Coverage. "
Dr Igbu in his own remarks said the movement is also to further strengthen the international border collaborations and cooperation between Nigeria and Cameroon which encompasses 6LGAs along the border stretch. He also urged the people to be on the lookout and promptly report to the appropriate authorities once they identify any sign of the diseases highlighted by team for immediate response.
The border surveillance is a continuous exercise and simultaneously done across all the 16 border states to curb the spread of diseases, not just the Polio virus.
Coco-bassey Esu
Writes From Calabar
