In recognition of his support on eradication of polio in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan Monday announced that the co-chairman of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, would be conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).
He commended Mr. Gates for his commitment to helping Africa to solve health problems, saying that the CFR honour would be conferred on him in December during national honours conferment ceremony.
While commending Mr. Gates for his commitment to helping Africa to solve its health problems, part of which is polio, he said the conferment would be done in December
President Jonathan was speaking at a stakeholders’ forum on polio eradication organized by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at the State House Banquet Hall, the President also called on stakeholders, especially states to redouble efforts so that polio could be a thing of the past in the country before 2015.
He said now that election year is fast approaching, politicians should not abandon the funding of polio because of election.
President Jonathan also commended Dangote for showing high degree of support for government in all sectors.
Some state governors bagged awards instituted by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum for their efforts in eradicating polio in their states. They are Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State won the award for South West while Liyel Imoke of Cross River State won for South South as Captain Idris Wada Kogi State for North Central.
Also, Peter Obi of Anambra State won for South East while Kashim Shettima of Borno State won the award for North East and Gov Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State for North West, while Niger State won the award for most improved state.
Commenting on the recognition of states that have put in appreciable efforts, President Jonathan said, “For those that have won this award the challenge is that we will not want to see polio in your states again otherwise we will wipe out the award. You now have very strong partners, partner with FG to eradicate polio.
“Like Dangote mentioned, there is no reason we should not eradicate polio by 2014. Let me assure you that the Federal Government is totally committed to eradicating polio. We promise that we will work hard because we don’t want to handover polio to another government in 2015. With the support of all stakeholders present here I believe we will succeed in our commitment to eradicate polio.
“I charge you all to be so committed especially as the elections are coming. In fact from the analysis I was just briefed now I’m really surprised that in 2011 there was lapse and it was attributed to the elections, that during campaigns for elections we the politicians think more about winning the elections and forget about other things. I think and I charge you all that we must work together to make sure that the 2014/2015 will not create any kind of gap in our commitment to eradicate polio.
“In our local government and states that have suffered polio, it should be part of our campaign, it should rather be part of our campaign instead of our election to create a problem, our elections should enhance our commitment.”
Addressing the gathering, Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu said Nigeria has made tremendous progress in polio eradication in the last one year.
According to him, “Since November last year, we have not had the transmission of the Type A polio. We have reduced it by 50 per cent though we have recently had 51 cases, Borno, Kano, Yobe Bauchi are on the top ranks.
“The current challenges we face include non-accessibility to children due to insecurity, low political commitment, poor team performance, poor oversight and financial accountability.
“In Borno State in March some of our vaccinators were murdered, which led to the exercise being halted but by September, 70 per cent of the children had been reached,” the minister said.
Also, present at the Forum were Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III and Aliko Dangote, ministers and other top government functionaries.
