Ekpenyong Applauds Ayade, Health team and other stakeholders on Nigeria's Wild Polio Virus free status certification

As recent as 2012, Nigeria was said to have recorded over half of the world polio cases leaving the children, both living and yet unborn in a state of uncertainty, but 8 years down the line, the story is different, as Nigeria has now been declared wild polio virus free, all these were made possible through the unrelenting efforts of health workers, policy makers, caregivers, CSOs, local and international organizations, traditional and religious institutions as well.

There  commitments and results  has attracted praises from the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong as she felicitated with the nation and the state on attaining such a noble feet.

Dr Ekpenyong who spoke in Calabar, the Cross River State Capital said, with the pains and humiliation that comes with one raising a paralyzed child and living with such child/children all through ones lifetime, has made the attainment of a wild  polio virus  free status by Cross River State and Nigeria worth celebrating .

According to her, mortality and mobility was beginning to be on the increase before the delibrate sprung of action to eradicate it by the Nigerian Government whose policies were adopted by states in same vain.

She therefore used the opportunity to thank all worthy stakeholders who played critical roles especially the Government of Cross River State under the leadership of  His Excellency,Senator Professor Ben Ayade for showing great leadership and commitment and for fighting at the forefront and making great investment to ensure that Cross River State remains Polio free,she also used the opportunity to  thank the wife of the governor for all her campaigns and for ensuring that Cross River children are well catered for, others on the list are,His Excellency the Deputy Governor of Cross River state, Prof Evara Ejemot Esu, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu, health workers, civil society groups,the media, other MDAs as well as partners for their undeserving supports.

"I want to congratulate Nigeria for being certified  wild polio virus free, its been a very long and complex journey ,but am glad that we are finally here.

The wild polio virus has ravaged so many lives, it has caused lots of mortality and morbidity, so for us we are very happy that we have finally come to this level.

I want to commend all our dear mothers, and all the care givers who have worked tirelessly to ensure that their children are brought to our various health facilities and outreaches to get them immunized, your efforts have really paid off, I want to specially appreciate our dear health workers who have worked tirelessly to make sure that they comn even the hardest to reach communities to look for all our children to get them all immunized, you are indeed our heroes.

We want to thank you for all the efforts you put into the fight to ensure that Cross River State is declared polio free,and as well as Nigeria.I want to as well thank our traditional rulers for lending their voices to ensure that our people accept immunization, I want to also thank our civil society organizations and our media partners who have been very supportive.You have ensured that our messages gets to the very far and hard to reach areas.