Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State
By Ibrahim Shuaibu
Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State has warned that any public official found sabotaging the government’s effort in its anti-polio campaign will be subjected to the full wrath of the law.
He said the government understood that some people had turned the polio immunization project into an industry, as a result of which he directed the redeployment of all personnel hitherto involved in the exercise.
The governor handed the warning while exchanging views with the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate and the Executive Secretary, National Primary Health Care Commission, Dr. Ado Dogo Muhammad.
“As part of my strategy to ensure its success in Kano, I have directed that all personnel in the project in the state should be redeployed. New hands have been assigned to take over their duties because some of the personnel have tuned the immunization exercise into an industry,” he said.
The government, according to him, is committed to deploying all resources available to the success of the anti-polio campaign, and promoting the general welfare of Kano citizens.
Governor Kwankwaso assured that all hands are on deck by all stakeholders in Kano to ensure that polio is eradicated in the state within the shortest possible time.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate said the visit was to brief the governor on the state of federal health projects in Kano, the launch of the “Save 1 million Children from Malaria by 2015” project as well polio immunization strides.
The Minister noted the determination of Governor Kwankwaso in eradicating polio, hoping the spirit will be sustained.
On his part, the Executive Secretary, National Primary HealthCare Commission, Dr. Ado Dogo Muhammad disclosed that his agency has succeeded in boxing and localizing the polio virus and localizing it, having identified the local government areas and wards that it is still prevalent.
He stated that satellite maps of Kano and Jigawa States have obtained to enable the agency identify communities and settlements that are yet to benefit from immunization efforts, while efforts are on to track children of Fulani nomads to ensure that they are duly vaccinated.