The organization described the decision taken during the World Polio Eradication Week as counterproductive in the efforts to eradicate polio worldwide.  National coordinator of the cosortium, Dr Judith Ann-Walker, said while countries are intensifying efforts towards eradicating the menace, Nigeria cannot afford to backtrack after huge investment over decades to totally eradicate the menace from Africa.

 

She said recently, the World Health Organization, (WHO)  called on countries to reach more children missed by routine delivery systems, especially those living in countries, districts or areas where less than 80% of them are receiving vaccines or those living in countries affected by conflicts or emergencies. The reduction in budget allocation in the 2016 national budget of polio has not therefore responded to this clarion call, the statement added.

 

According to dRPC, more than 60% of children who are unvaccinated live in 10 countries which include Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Pakistan, the Philippines, Uganda and South Africa. The country director called on lawmakers and the federal ministry of health to ensure that adequate provision is given to polio eradication to prevent reversal effect in the successes recorded over the years.