Polio Eradication: JAP calls for upward review of funds to LGAs
By Abdallah el-Kurebe

The Journalists Against Poliomyelitis and for Immunization (JAP), Sokoto state chapter has called on government and other donor agencies in the state to consider an upward review of funds meant for Immunization Plus Days (IPDs), especially in Very High Risk local government areas.

The called was made during JAP’s one-day orientation meeting with officials of UNICEF and Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SPHDA) for December round of IPDs.
In a communique signed by the state coordinator, Abdallah el-Kurebe and issued in Sokoto on Thursday, the organisation stated: “Sokoto state government and other donor agencies should consider making upward review of funds to, especially Very High Risk Local government areas as well as introduce mechanisms to ensure that the funds were used in prudent and accountable manner for effective conduct of IPDs.”

The meeting noted with dismay “the attitude of some local government councils that have continued to fail in making contributions of their counterpart fundings towards polio immunization exercises” and called on Sokoto state government to ensure timely release of he funds for IPDs.

JAP observed that executives and other officials of local government councils were not fully committed to the general efforts of eradication polio and suggested that “Local government council chairmen, secretaries and directors should be made to have improved political will towards the exercise.”

In spite of the various interventions of UNICEF such as Volunteer Community Mobilizers (VCMs) Doctors Against Polio (DAP), Polio Survivors Groups (PSGs), FOMWAN and others that are engaged in mobilizing people in High Risk LGAs, “more members of communities, including. Political leaders should be involved in the ongoing efforts to eradicate polio,” it added.

While calling for training and retraining of vaccinators and other officials engaged in IPDs, the meeting also called on the intensification of efforts to sensitize care-givers themselves on the importance of polio vaccine.

Posted by Abdallah el-Kurebe