They unanimously agreed that clinical trials must be conducted for all medicines in the Region, without exception.

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Oyo APC had on March 24, 2020 announced the shut down of its Oke-Ado State Secretariat, local government and Ward offices as well as all political activities involving its members across the state in compliance with the Federal Government’s directive to encourage social distancing and thus stop the further spread of the dreadful virus.

In a statement issued from the office of the State Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, and made available to journalists in Ibadan by the Assistant Publicity Secretary, Prince Ayobami Adejumo, Oyo APC observed that the relative curtailment of COVID-19 in the country was as a result of some proactive measures put in place by the government at the centre and some state governors who have proved to be competent enough.

“COVID-19 took the whole world by storm as it has claimed several thousands of lives in super power nations such as China, United States, United Kingdom, Spain and Italy while Nigeria has a record of five deaths and less than 250 cases with 25 recoveries as at now in spite of a huge population of about 200 million people. As a member of the global community, it would have been extremely difficult for Nigeria to prevent the virus from coming in and this makes it imperative to appreciate governments at all levels and the citizenry on the feat recorded.

“We are not disputing the fact that much still needed to be done to align with the rest of the world in the quest to completely defeat coronavirus and it is on this premise that we are calling for more concerted efforts from Oyo State government of Gov. Seyi Makinde to raise its game and ensure that no stone is unturned in the bid protect the people of the state from further spread.

“This is not the best time to cover up incompetence and apportion blame to the federal government or the immediate past APC administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi over the inability to put in place the right facilities, formulate correct policies and rise up to the challenges posed by COVID-19 in the state. It was Sen. Ajimobi who built divinesilities in Olodo, Jericho and few other places across the state being readied for the treatment of coronavirus patients but Gov. Makinde chooses not to acknowledge this for reasons best known to him.

“The same governor who finds it extremely difficult to synergize with the Federal Government and its relevant agencies on the need to attract the right attention to Oyo State with nine established cases amidst a population of about more than nine million people takes delight in disparaging President Buhari’s various Special Intervention Programmes (SIPs). This is rather unfortunate as we call on well meaning indigenes of the state to talk to Gov. Makinde on the need to be a good team player.

“However, we are using this opportunity to underscore the demonstration of high sense of empathy, responsibility and responsiveness by privileged members of Oyo APC who have reached out to fellow party faithful and other members of the public in cash and kind since COVID-19 came with its attendant lockdown and hardship. Many of our people have risen up to the occasion and worked assiduously to give succour to the people across all divides.

“As the whole world looks towards a complete eradication of Coronavirus, we as a progressive political party urges more caution while we appeal for people to avoid any activity capable of increasing its spread. Strict adherence to measures put in place by the World Health Organization (WHO), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the state government must be prioritized by all and sundry. Lastly, more affluent individuals and corporate organizations should come to the aid of the masses in terms of provision of aids and relief materials for obvious reasons.” The statement said.

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Nomadic pastoralists live beyond the reach of established health care programs that are designed to serve sedentary populations. As a result, these groups are often under-immunized and out of the reach of existing disease surveillance activities.

Speaking on the intervention, Mallam Gwanda Mairakuma of Maiadua local government in Niger Republic said that, “with this intensified commitment, vaccination activities have reduced the number of complications associated with Measles infection on our children”.

Tracking nomadic populations

Difficulties have been experienced in the past in tracking and reaching nomadic populations with services such as sensitization on early disease reporting, immunization activities and access to general healthcare services due largely to the nature of their movement, which often involves settling in hard-to-reach transit camps.

Reaching the nomadic population in the cross border areas of the North Western region has been particularly difficult due to the nature of the population which involves settling in hard to reach and sometimes security compromised areas, making the zone the highest with under-immunized children in the country. Jigawa and Katsina states in particular are maximizing efforts in reaching these populations by identifying major migrant groups and characterizing the movement of nomadic populations in the region for effective administration of vaccines.

In collaboration with Katsina State government, WHO has intensified efforts to reach nomadic communities across the state with immunization services, sensitization on prompt disease reporting and on the need to access health care services. The nomadic settlements span across 14 Local Government Areas (LGAs), wards and settlements passing through international borders with Niger republic. LGAs with nomadic routes include: Baure, Dutsinma, Kafur, Ingawa, Kaita, Jibia, Mashi, Charanchi, Musawa, Batsari, Maiadua, Zango, Danja, Kusada LGAs among others.

These communities are among the most marginalized, hard to reach and nomadic in nature who migrate across LGAs, States and international borders due to their transitory movement and settlement in camps and hamlets. The State conducts series of activities to enhance immunity and interrupt transmission of Polio and other priority diseases along transit exit points and settlements with nomadic routes through immunization. Jigawa State also shares international borders with Niger republic in two LGAs namely, Sule tankarkar and Maigatari.

“WHO Nigeria supported a 10km strip vaccination along Nigeria-Niger border, using mOPV2 in October 2018 which was conducted along with vaccination at border cross points in March through April 2019,” says Dr Audu Sunday, WHO Jigawa State Coordinator.

“WHO has also supported Jigawa state to establish in-between round vaccination teams providing routine immunization, polio vaccination and Measles vaccines along the border cross points as well as the Maigatari international market. Disease surveillance officers of both countries also conduct joint visits to health facilities in communities at the border using Standard operating procedures for cross border notification of VPDs,” he adds.

High numbers of high risk children vaccinated

In Katsina state, 1,645 eligible nomadic children were reached during nomadic vaccinations in Ingawa and Maiadua LGAs between April and June 2019 from the conduct of Outbreak Response (OBR) and in between rounds, respectively.

For the same period in Jigawa State, 6,280 Nigerien and 5,115 Nigerian children were vaccinated at the border crossing points. At least 8,608 children were vaccinated with mOPV2 in the 10km strip outbreak response in October 2018 in two districts of Niger Republic (Dungas and Magaria).

Meanwhile, for in-between round activities at the border 10,183 children received bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) while 3,358 were vaccinated with Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) as well as 1,035 with measles vaccine.

The Director Primary Health Care (DPHC) Jigawa State, Dr Shehu Sambo during a supportive supervision to Miga LGA appreciated WHO’s support in establishing the nomadic vaccination. “We are happy with WHO’s support and encourage health workers to take the opportunity to improve routine immunization coverage across the State.”

Support for Polio eradication to Nigeria through WHO, is made possible by funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Department for International Development (DFID – UK), European Union, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Government of Germany through KfW Bank, Global Affairs Canada, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Community Chest Korea, KOFIH (Korea), Rotary International and the World Bank.

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