Niger Assures On Strengthened Surveillance For Polio-free Status

The Niger State government is committed to sustaining its polio-free status through strengthened surveillance, the commissioner for health, Dr. Murtala Muhammad Bagana, has said.

Speaking when the state received a delegation from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)  to the state, Dr. Bagana stressed that public health programmes must be driven by government ownership to ensure sustainability, noting  that while international partnerships remained critical, structures such as the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) must remain under state leadership.

He said, “Niger State is willing to align with national strategies in tackling polio, but there is also a need for broader engagement at national and global levels to address emerging challenges.”

The delegation comprised representatives of the World Health Organization, UNICEF and other development partners who met with health sector stakeholders to review performance indicators and assess ongoing strategies toward total polio eradication.