THE Nigeria National Polio plus Committee (NNPC) supported by the Rotary International, has so far drilled 30 boreholes in some Polio High Risk States in the country.

Alhaji Ndanusa Yakubu, the NNPC National Vice Chairman, disclosed this at the inauguration of some of the boreholes in Batagarawa Local Government Area of Katsina State on Wednesday.

He said the project was aimed at complementing governments efforts toward eradicating poliomyelitis and other related diseases across the country.

He said that the boreholes were drilled in Katsina, Kaduna, Yobe and Borno states pointing out that more will be drilled in the other Polio High Risk States in the country.

‘’Two hundred boreholes will be drilled in the identified High Risk States of the federation, but we have already completed 30 and are now ready for commissioning,’’ he said.

Yunusa said that poliomyelitis is contracted through living in unhealthy environment.

‘’We have carefully identified the communities that are in dare need of potable water supply in these states.

‘’People in such communities live in unhealthy environment and drink water where their animals also drink, that can lead to poliomyelitis as well as outbreak of other water and environment related diseases,’’ he said.

According to him, the project would also go along way in complementing governments’ efforts in enhancing environmental sanitation and provision of clean water to people particularly in rural areas of the country.

The vice chairman expressed optimism that the country would soon be certified as polio free.

‘’In view of the efforts of various stakeholders, Nigeria will soon be certified as polio free,’’ he said.

Yakubu, therefore, urged various stakeholders to intensify efforts toward attaining the set goal.

He said that the committee would continue to enlighten people on the importance of living in healthy environment and the dangers associated with that.

In his remarks, the Executive Chairman, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Muawuya Aliyu, represented by Dr Shamsu Yahaya, said that the intervention is timely as the state had recently recorded outbreaks of vomiting and diarrhea.

He said that the outbreak was as a result of living in unhealthy environment and drinking unclean water.

He commended Rotary International for the gesture and urged the benefiting communities to embrace maintenance culture and safeguard the facilities in their domain from vandals  (NAN)

– Aug. 8, 2018 @ 17:49 GMT |

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