Edo State Government has said that the state would continue to maintain her polio free status as no case of polio has been recorded in the state since March, 2009.

 
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Aihanuwa Eregie who disclosed this yesterday in a State-Wide broadcast to mark this year’s World Polio Day stated that the State government remains committed to all public health activities that guarantee the good health of children and mothers.

 
She stated that “we will ensure all children under five years of age are reached and immunized, irrespective of location as this will contribute to the maintenance of Polio free status of the State”.

 
According to her, the World Polio Day is a day set aside to sensitize and create more awareness as well as to devise strategies that would enhance the actualization of the goal of the global polio eradication effort.

 
Poliomyelitis, she said is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus which is transmitted from person to person, spreading through the faecal-oral route or less frequently, through contaminated water, food and dirty environment.

 
Noting that children under five years of age are at greater risk, she said ending the polio virus is a task that must be done.

 
Dr. Eregie therefore called on all parents to become polio advocates by ensuring that all children born in every community are taking to the closest health centre for immunization which is free and safe.

Source: Nigerian Observer