The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, yesterday flagged-off routine vaccination to tackle the resurgence of polio in the state.
Represented by the Waziri of Sokoto, Professor Wali Junaid, the Sultan called on residents of the state to ensure that their wards were fully vaccinated during the exercise.
While commending international agencies, especially UNICEF, for their support in making the vaccine available, he said, “it is left for us to realise that we now have to find a way to deal with it on our own.
“We have to create awareness on how to deal with the virus by mobilising our wards to take this vaccine. Polio is real and we should note that.
“Prophet Muhammad in one of his sermons said that every sickness has a remedy which is the same with polio. Any sickness without remedy does not exist.
“Elimination of polio is possible because some years back, the said polio was completely eradicated in the state and the country at large.
“It is unfortunate that our people did not take cleanliness very seriously, some people still urinate along the streets which is bad.
“If we maintain cleanliness, we will not only eradicate polio but other diseases that are related to the environment.”
Special adviser on Primary Healthcare to the state governor, Bello Garba said, it is unfortunate that the state was the worst hit in the country.
