Vanguard, TUESD AY, A UGUST 14, 2012 — 49 TUESDA AUGUST
One year without polio:
Angola’s success story BY SOLA OGUNDIPE
A
UGUST 10 2012 marked a milestone in Angola. It was the day the Southern African country recorded one year without report of a single new case of wild poliovirus. By extrapolation, the country could be said to have moved a step closer towards eradication of the contagious crippling disease . A joint press release by the Ministry of Health of Angola, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, noted that after a concerted effort to stop polio transmission the number of polio cases dropped from 33 in 2010 to five in 2011 and no cases registered in 2012. Laboratory results have confirmed that the last case of wild poliovirus was a 14month-old child from Uige Province in the country's Northwest in July 2011. Angola, which eliminated polio from 2001 to 2004, has been plagued by re-emergence since May 2005. The disease spread to Namibia (2006), the Democratic Republic of Congo (2006, 2008 and 2010), and the Republic of Congo (2010). It was gatherd that in recent years, the country made significant progress against polio by improving
disease surveillance, strengthening the quality and coverage of mass polio vaccination campaigns, expanding and improving routine immunisation services as well as expanding access at a household level to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. Also in the last year, Angola has sought to better control of the circulation of the polio virus in reservoirs, particularly in Luanda and Benguela, as well as along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo with steps including synchronizing vaccination campaigns.
Vaccination campaigns In the view of the Deputy Minister of Health, Evelize Fresta, "This achievement reflects the leadership and commitment of the Government, who contribute around 89 per cent of operational costs of the polio campaigns. It also signifies the impact of our investment in strengthening access to primary health care services. "We deeply appreciate the commitment of local, provincial and national Government officials, civil society, international partners and the private sector and the media, who have
all played a significant role in achieving this milestone." The country invested in improving the quality of massive vaccination campaigns, where thousands of health workers and volunteers were deployed to ensure door to door vaccination against polio, including vaccination at crossing points, main streets, markets, water points targeting all children under the age of five. For the first time in the country's history, 95 per cent of children targeted in these campaigns were reached, according to the post-campaign independent monitoring data from the last nationwide polio campaign from June 29 to July 1, 2012. According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, GPEI, in 2012, 103 cases have been reported as of 1 August 2012, and only three countries remain endemic: Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan. the acting WHO Representative in Angola, Factors such as improvement in quality of campaigns, high commitment of government at all levels, and implementation of community-based strategies played a significant role. Since 1988, the incidence of polio has been reduced by more than 99 per cent.
Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, marked its 50th anniversary with a tree planting exercise last week. Dignitaries that graced the occasion included Professor Ade Elebute, Chairman, Hygeia Ltd, and former Chief Medical Director, LUTH. Assisting him during the exercise are the current Chief Medical Director, Professor Akin Oshibogun; Chairman, Medical Advisory Committe, Professor Olugbenga Ogunlewe (right) and Head of Engineering services .
Reckitt Benkiser embarks on massive campaign against malaria BY CHIOMA OBINNA
F
OLLOWING the con tinued wrong perception of Nigerians about incidence of malaria, experts have called for massive awareness campaign on malaria particularly in the rural areas with a view to reducing the scourge of malaria in the country. To this end, Reckitt Benkiser, makers of Mortein Insecticide has embarked on an 8-week anti-malaria campaign in 75 primary health care and maternal centres in Lagos State. At a two-day training workshop, the Brand Manager, Mortein Insecticide for Reckitt Benckiser, Mrs. Toyin Yusuf, said the campaign is targeting vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, nursing mothers and children. It would educate women C M Y K
on how to keep their environment mosquito free,importance of mosquito treated nets
among other things. She said it was necessary to train the health instructors and Roll Back Malaria
partners so they could pass on the training at their various primary health care centres.
•Health Educator, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State, Mrs. Sakeenah Salvador-Bakori; Deputy Director, Health Education,LSMoH, Mrs. Omowunmi George; Brand Manager, Mortein, Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Plc, Oluwatoyin Yusuf; and Assistant. RBM Manager, LSMOH , Dr. Victoria Omoera, at the Mortein/LSMoH Training for RBM Officers and Health Educators in Lagos, last week. Photo by Diran Oshe.
“We are training 90 people throughout the eight week period of the campaign in Lagos after which we would take the campaign to other states of the country,” she added At least 32,000 new mothers would be given free Mortein insecticide. The Scientific Service group Coordinator, Research for development, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Uchenna Nwakanma explained that Mortein is composed to meet World Health Organisation standard on toxic substances. “Toxic Insecticide exposure can cause a variety of adverse health effects which include irritation of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Gastric symptoms such as stomach cramp, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, loss of appetite, muscle weak-
ness, slowed heart rate and even cancer “What we have therefore done with Mortein is to stay away from those hazardous substances because we do not want the insecticides to harm anybody. These women therefore need to know how important it is to use the right insecticide and know how to spray to keep from harm.” Deputy Director, Health Education, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Omowunmi George who reiterated government’s determination to make the state malaria free stated that the government was taking the fight against malaria very seriously. She pledged that the state would continue to collaborate with credible organisations to reduce the incidence of malaria to minimum in the state.