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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.
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