Nigeria is only African country with polio burden – UNICEF gives reason

The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has revealed why Nigeria is the only African country to bear a burden of polio.

According to UNICEF, religious beliefs and ignorance were the main factors responsible for Nigeria’s status as the only country in Africa where polio cases are high.

This was revealed during an engagement with media professionals in Yola, organized by UNICEF and the Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA).

In a presentation on the “Paradigm Shift in Media Engagement on the Administration of Oral Poliovirus Vaccines”, Dr. Amos Ujulu of PHCDA noted that ignorance, misconceptions and beliefs were among the factors affecting eradication of polio in Nigeria.

Explaining further, Ujulu said “Nigeria is the only country where polio is still prevalent in Africa,” adding that “only three out of ten children have been vaccinated in Adamawa State”.

Speaking further, he outlined the context of the National Immunization Coverage Survey (NICS), stating that coverage was low due to ignorance.

“In Adamawa State, the coverage was 59%, but we are aiming for another 29% before the end of the year,” he said.