Billionaire Bill Gates and African richest business mogul, Aliko Dangote have hailed the declaration of Nigeria and Africa by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as polio-free. Yesterday, 25th August 2020, WHO declared Nigeria and the rest of Africa as a polio-free nation. The WHO African Region Certification Commission said the major milestone was achieved four years after the last incident recorded in the country. In his verified tweeter handle, Gates tweeted that, it is a remarkable achievement and we are close to global to polio eradication. He stated, “Today, we move one step closer toward a world without polio. This is an incredible milestone that’s worth celebrating. It is also an important reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together toward a common goal.”
Meanwhile, in his remark, Aliko Dangote said the polio-free Africa was an indication that when we fight globally, we can eradicate polio in Africa.
His tweet statement reads; “Today, we celebrate a polio-free Africa, the result of decades of vaccination, hard work, and collaboration. Tomorrow we get back to work, to ensure wild polio does not come back. Together, we all can #EndPolio globally,”
The United (UN) Secretary, Antonio Guterres also tweeted on his handle that the declaration has filled him with optimism that a lot could be achieved through a global collaboration effort.
He further stated that as Africa has been declared polio-free, the news gives him hope that it is possible in Africa, saying being in a global community gives an opportunity of achieving so much more.
Also, the Board Chair, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, celebrated with President Buhari for the achievement.
In her tweet, she said, “A great day for #Nigeria and #Africa. Nigeria receives a polio-free Certificate from @WHO. Africa declared #PolioFree. Congratulations Nigerians on this great achievement. Congrats to President @MBuhari, President @GEJonathan, President Obasanjo, PHDA, @Gavi, @gatesfoundation,” she tweeted via @NOIweala.
Also, Dr. Olubusiyu Adewumi, a Virologist from the University of Ibadan College of Medical Science lauded the achievement describing it as a milestone for Africa.
He explained that “There are three subtypes of poliovirus which are poliovirus type (PV1), type 2 (PV2), and type 3 (PV3).
“Also, we have the vaccine and wild type of each subtype of poliovirus,” he said.
“The vaccine type is referred to as Sabin strain because it is derived from oral polio vaccine (OPV).
“The wild type poliovirus is responsible for most infections.
“Paralysis resultant vaccine strain of poliovirus occurs but are very rare, thus we can as well say Nigeria and indeed Africa is free of polio with the eradication of wild poliovirus,” he said.
Recall in September 2015, WHO removed Nigeria from the list of polio-endemic nations when for the whole year, no incident was recorded of the transmission.
Meanwhile, as Nigeria has been dropped from the list, the only two countries globally being considered at high risk are; Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Polio is a contagious viral disease that when it attacks, it causes a severe form of nerve injury leading to irreversible paralysis and in some cases death.
