The World Health Organisation has described health workers, community mobilisers, religious and traditional leaders as the real unsung heroes in the fight against polio.
In a statement issued by Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO, Regional Director for Africa on World Polio Day 2015, the organisation also President Muhammadu Buhari for Nigeria’s delisting as a polio endemic country.
The statement read “Today, we celebrate a very special World Polio Day and a historic moment in the WHO African Region, one without a case of wild polio virus in over a year.
“The day comes just days before the official ceremony with the President of Nigeria to take the country off the polio endemic list.
“The day is a true testament of what political will, government leadership and the collective efforts of partners can achieve when united behind a global public health good.
“Health care workers, community mobilisers, religious and traditional leaders are the real unsung heroes in the fight against polio.
“The combined, coordinated efforts of these front-line workers have brought us to where we are today, a step closer to global polio eradication.
“Creating community demand has increased access to polio vaccination and basic health care services through a combination of awareness-raising activities related to the disease, its consequences and its prevention.”
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