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HEALTH
INTERACTIVE WITH DR AMINU MAGASHI Now That the Polio Controversy is over
As
reported by Daily Trust in its lead story ‘ Polio:
Kano Resume Vaccination (Tuesday, July, 20th, 2004),
the Executive Governor of the State who reportedly directed that the
conduct of polio immunization should resume in the state and directed
the state’s ministry of health to commence all necessary preparation
for the conduct of the programme which was suspended for about 11 month. That
changed of heart followed the investigation of the vaccines imported
from Indonesia by the committee of polio expect led by Dr Lawan Alhassan
Bichi and another review by another committee of experts led by
Professor Sadiq Wali. Although at the end of the investigation, traces
of Estradiol were discovered, the second committee who reportedly did a
wider consultation with experts both within and outside the country had
confirmed that the traces of Estradiol would not have any harmful
effect and will not induce production of anti bodies to cause
infertility. I
want to believe that it was based on that report that the The
flagging off has ended the 11-month controversy, which has put the
country in a mess and with different warring factions taking a hard line
stands. As I mentioned so many times on this page that , the suspicion
and later on discovery of estradiol in polio vaccine although that
was what dominated the 11 month old controversy, but never the
less that was not the genesis of the imbroglio. It is rather an EEFECT
of a CAUSE, or in other word a manifestation of a concealed saga
brushed off intentionally to cover weaknesses and lack of seriousness to
face the actual plight of world children. Other
issues which I expected stakeholders to resolve at the end of the saga
which of course are carpeted has to do with implementation of the
programme Whether we like it or not, the programme being engineered by National Programme On Immunisation (NPI) and other development
partners is suffering from poor management and implementation,
exaggeration and declaration of awesome percentage coverage, poor
advocacy and social mobilisation which tend to confuse the beneficiaries
to differentiate between marketing of commercial product and advocating
for a programme that will impact positively on their life. The
cause of the controversy and its genesis was not even raised by both The
window dressing approach towards Measles,
Meningitis, Malnutrition And Malaria And Cholera and other issues
and the desperation and aggressive manner on polio eradication is what
led to suspicion and apprehension and the later on discovery of
Estradiol and the entire saga. Until
our leaders are willing to address those itemised diseases, controversy
of this nature will continue to be with us and from time to time will
roar its head into national area. A look at the UNICEF document will
confirm my assertion and believe that polio virus although a problem in
our midst but certainly it is not the only issue that need our
desperation and aggressiveness.
That document which is titled "Master
Plan of Operation, a
country agreement between UNICEF and Federal Government of Nigeria
between 2002 and 2007 on page 32, where the justification of entering
such agreement is adequately covered, among such is the child hood
killer diseases, and 22 % of all child mortalities in Nigeria is
attributed to them. Among such diseases, measles and meningitis carry
the highest percentage, followed by tuberculosis, pertusis, diphtheria
and tetanus. It may interest the reader to know that polio carries the
least percentage. It is very negligible to the extent that the document
has ignored allocating any percentage to it. .
I believe practically based on what is seen at the government
hospitals and various communities that assertion is quite acceptable. Another
promising landmark with regard to accepting that the neglect of the
immunisable diseases is the root of the problem came from European
Union, a major financier of the Global Polio Eradication Programme.
In a lead story in I
called it a land mark because I am of the firm belief that unless the
international development partners and their local counterpart
(NPI, Federal Ministry Of Health And States and LGAs) commence
addressing other diseases mentioned above, suspicion
and boy cot will be the least expected and to be seen by the larger
populace. I
will conclude this discourse by saying that I am of the support that we
should do all what we can to push the eradication of polio in our
country and beyond and equally reaffirm my stand that I envisage the
need for a sustain advocacy in the country to ensure working together
for the purpose of ensuring programming and planning to address the
children’s health problems. The advocacy shall ensure ·
Meetings
with media houses to ensure
editorial policies reform to support health activities in terms of
reporting, coverage and features writings. ·
Periodic Documentation and
Research on
specific needs of children with the aim of assisting towards effective
advocacy to stakeholders. ·
Interactive
seminars/dialogue with
stakeholders ·
Advocacy visits
to International development Agencies
on the need to invest on children
as well as understanding what works, priority areas to invest on and
good practices ·
Organised Private Sector
Initiative,
this is an initiative that will task private sector to engage in
children activities as part of their social responsibility to the
populace. ·
Advocacy visits
to states and LGAs
and federal government parastatals
implementing on children The
task is enormous but I believe it is achievable, what
is needed is
sincerity of purpose and a commitment to make a difference. Dr
Magashi Is the Executive Director of Community Health and Research
Initiative, |