Sustained ignorance has a way of
getting back at society. Knowledge and literacy on the other hand always mean
freedom in more ways than one. That includes freedom from communicable diseases.
Opposition to the administration of oral polio vaccines in
some states of the federation may have come and gone but the damage caused by
the controversy, while it lasted, remains costly for the country.
Controversy over genuineness or otherwise of the polio
vaccines, couched in religious and political garb, punctuated efforts by the
country to achieve total eradication of the disease by December 2004.That
unfinished business was bound to haunt the country.
Fresh information indicates that Nigeria may be at the
threshold of a polio epidemic, which will, no doubt, rob the country of a
sizeable chunk of its youth population in the near future.
Until the 1950s, polio was a major childhood hazard in
industrialized countries. It was brought under effective control with the
introduction of effective vaccines. The concern to eradicate the disease in
developing countries did not quite catch on till 1970 when oral polio vaccines
were introduced through the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). Despite
the effort, 98 per cent of global polio cases are still concentrated in three
populous third world countries; Nigeria, India and Pakistan.
Of the percentage, Nigeria is said to account for about 77
per cent of global polio virus cases and 85 per cent of such cases on the
African continent.
In the first quarter of 2004, a total of 259 wild polio virus
cases were recorded in Nigeria with heavy concentration in the northern part of
the country. United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) assistant Country
Representative in Nigeria, Mr. George Cooke, puts the figure at over 300, with
Kano listed as having the highest incidence of wild polio.
Earlier this month, Cooke noted that "there are two countries
that are now countries of problem: Nigeria and India. This year alone, India has
a few cases, while Nigeria has the highest of over 300 cases. That means the
problem is there"
Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) reinforced the alarm
raised by Cooke. Rising from a one day polio eradication sensitization seminar
held in collaboration with UNICEF in Kano, the association noted in its
communiqu� that "cases of wild polio virus are on the increase in Nigeria
despite efforts being made by the National Programme on Immunization (NPIU),
UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO), in implementing supplementary
immunization activities"
Indeed, the association held that "Nigeria has the highest
reservoir of wild polio virus in the world as at August 4, 2004, with the
North-west zone carrying the greatest burden"
Disturbingly, only a few states are reported to be polio
free, indicating that the country is still at risk, given that as experts say,
"until the last child is immunized, every child is at risk of contracting polio"
WHO Polio eradication chief, David Heymann says, "Nigeria’s
polio epidemic has placed approximately 74 million children at risk." That is a
very disturbing situation by any reckoning. Contending with polio within a
country’s borders is bad enough.Now, however, the country is being accused also
of exporting the disease to neighbouring countries. The culpability was accepted
when Health Minister, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo apologized to Togo, Niger, Benin,
Burkina Faso, Chad and Cameroon at a parley in Abuja over the spread of the
virus from Nigeria to those countries.
His words: "The postponed immunization activities in these
key states of Nigeria resulted in marked increase in the number of polio
infected and paralyzed children and the re-infection of previously polio-free
states in Nigeria and the exportation of the virus to at least six neighbouring
states.
"On that note, I formally tender my apology on behalf of the
Nigerian Government for the development and at the same time pledge to work
harder to make polio a history by the end of the year"
In fact, Nigeria would have been saved the humiliation of an
apology had proper education been carried out by relevant government agencies on
the need to immunize children against the disease.
Polio targets children at infancy. At this stage of life
development, the children are not expected to decide for themselves. Their
parents bear the burden of deciding for them. It makes sense that most parents
will want to immunize their children against killer diseases like polio, having
seen the devastation, sorrow and anguish caused by the virus.Unfortunately,the
protective step to ward off this disease has not come as naturally as should be
expected.
There is no doubt that education plays a very crucial role in
changing behaviour and correcting unwholesome social situations. Enlightened
parents will be more aware of the importance of immunization against child
killer diseases. Such enlightenment becomes important therefore, because there
is a correlation between bad news and ignorance. Bad news travels very fast and
parents who are skeptical about polio vaccines will find enough wrong
information to support their skepticism.
The unfortunate controversy which led to the boycott of
immunization days in the North, with its attendant exposure of children to the
risk of the disease was based on misinformation and ignorance.
The need to properly educate parents and make them aware of
the advantages of immunizing their children against contrary views from
political and religious leaders is now, more urgent.
Government should therefore move with all relevant agencies
and non-governmental organizations to intensify campaign against polio. The
primary aim in this effort should cover getting parents better informed on the
need to immunize their children.
We believe that until the last parent is convinced on the
need to immunize his child against polio and other infant killer diseases, the
threat of polio will continue to loom over the society. A crop of parents
ignorant and unenlightened about the nature of polio and the need to address it
decisively constitutes a great threat to any initiative to tackle this
problem.Ordinarily, parents know best what their children need. They feel the
pains of their children far more than any other party could feel. When, however,
any set of parents do not have the necessary knowledge about what is in the best
interest of their children that becomes the making of social tragedy. Such was
the basis of the controversy over the polio campaign in parts of the country.
Such a situation should not be allowed to obtain any more.
Health ministries across the country should move swiftly to re-energize the
National Immunization Days and related campaigns with a view to covering more
areas. It is imperative also that the enlightenment of parents, community and
religious leaders as well as political leaders be stepped up simultaneously
along this line. The drive to immunize every child should be total. Nigeria
should not continue to be within the dark map of the world’s polio axis.
