Nigeria Health Watch
By Onyinye Oranezi and Thelma Chioma Abeku (Lead Writers) The launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) a little over three decades ago, which birthed the drive for a polio free world has resulted in significant health advances. Indeed, before the COVID-19 pandemic, polio eradication hinted at what the world could accomplish by working […]
Polio, a contagious disease caused by the poliomyelitis virus is transmitted primarily when stool from someone infected contaminates foods, drinks or water sources. It invades the nervous system and could, in a matter of hours, lead to complete paralysis. On the 24th of August 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) officially declared Nigeria and Africa […]
Editor’s Note: Today’s piece is an OpEd from renowned Virologist and Chair of Nigeria Expert Review Committee on Poliomyelitis Eradication and Routine Immunisation, Prof. Oyewale Tomori. This World Immunisation Week, he explores Nigeria’s long road towards polio eradication and gives insights into exactly how far we still have to go before we can confidently assert […]
In August 2016, the last poliovirus case in Nigeria was diagnosed in Monguno Local Government Area in the North-Eastern state of Borno. Since then, those working in the polio space, nationally and globally, have worked hard and are watching vigilantly with bated breath as Nigeria again comes close to being declared polio-free by 2019, incidentally […]
Nigeria is about to cross an important milestone in its fight to eradicate polio. July 24th will mark one year since the last polio case was recorded in the country. Nigeria Health Watch team member Ifeanyi Nsofor reflects on the effort it has taken to get us here and what it will take to maintain […]