Nigerian Government commends traditional leaders’ effort in healthcare development

The Nigerian government has commended the northern traditional leaders for playing vital roles in the development of primary healthcare in the country.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Sultan of Sokoto urges traditional Leaders to support vaccination campaign

The Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, gave the commendation at the Third Quarter Review Meeting of the Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Healthcare Delivery, in Abuja.

He said that the paternal guidance of the traditional over the years has contributed immensely to the modest successes achieved thus far in primary healthcare.

“The first phase of our strategic COVID-19 Vaccine roll out witnessed complete utilization of all available doses of vaccines, due to your support in the sensitization and mobilization of the community for vaccination.

“The second phase which is currently ongoing, would also require our traditional leaders to champion the cause towards vaccination and ensure Nigeria returns to normal living. We encourage you to use your influence to disseminate the right information and dispel any misinformation on the vaccines.

“This achievement is due to the collective efforts of all of you our fathers, steering the boat of leadership to ensure vaccination is widely accepted by all. “. Dr. Shuaib said.

He also said that Nigeria’s wild poliovirus free certification is not under any threat.

” I would also like use this opportunity to once again, appreciate His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, NTLC members and all traditional and religious leaders across the country for the sustained support and continuous mobilization of the community to ensure that we remain WPV free.

He said that the efforts show that the traditional leaders have the interest of their community at heart and are collaborating with the Government in ensuring basic healthcare services are available to the people.

“With the different disease outbreaks that we are currently contending with, it is imperative that our approach becomes more integrated. This is because they are all interwoven. Amidst COVID-19, we have Cholera, CVDPV2 which is as a result of suboptimal routine immunization in some parts of the country. As we conduct outbreak response campaigns, we need to find a way to integrate our responses for efficient utilization of available resources and to enhance confidence in our people. Integration will also enhance our determination to continue to safeguard our wild polio virus free status. Consequently, Your Highnesses, mobilization, sensitization, advocacy and role modelling efforts should target multiple interventions simultaneously“. Dr Shuaib noted.

In his response, the Chairman of the committee and the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, said that the meeting focused on recent health issues affection the northern part of Nigeria.

” We will also be talking about the Cholera outbreak we are experiencing in the north and some spots outbreaks of Missles in some areas”. HD said.

The World Health Organisation Country Representative, Dr Walter Molumbo, commended the traditional rulers for their involvement in the health and wel being of the people.

He said that the meeting is evidence of the The traditional institutions’ commitment to allignining stakeholders support to National policy.

“The role of the traditional leaders in the eradication of diseases are some of the examples that readily come to mind. You are able achieve these results because of your unique positions as traditional leaders and custodians of our society“. Dr. Molumbo said.

He added that it was hoped that the meeting would rekindle the spirit of volunteerism and caring for each other in the community and sustain improved PHC services.

Also speaking on the meeting, the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Mr Peter Hawkins, said that immunization is not only critical to children but adults as well as the COVID-19 vaccination is the way out of the pandemic and to return Nigeria back to normal.

He urged the traditional leaders to continue to use their good offices to encourage the people to get vaccinated.

“Nigeria has a very good immunization infrastructure across the country and an exceptional leadership. In areas with poor sanitation, this excreted vaccine virus can spread to other children. This can actually be good because it then immunizes them. When the strain no longer finds susceptible children, it dies out,” he said.

The country Representative also warned against the dangers of undermining routine immunization.

“The problem occurs in areas of low vaccination. There, such vaccine-derived strains of the virus can continue to circulate as long as they continue to find unvaccinated or otherwise susceptible children. While they continue to circulate, they mutate. Eventually, if they are allowed to circulate long enough, at least 12 months, they can mutate into strains that are strong enough to cause paralysis“. He added.

Also, the Nigeria Vice President of the National Polioplus Committee of Rotary International, Mr. Ndanusa Yakubu, said that the royal fathers have shown immense commitment to the eradication of diseases.

While the representative of the US CDC, Dr Omotayo Bolu, said that the traditional leaders can help in pushing women to take their children out for vaccination and help in reducing the rate of diseases.