A Citizens’ Guide to Policy Initiatives
Disappointing news last week, with the discovery of two cases of wild polio virus in two local governments in Borno State – Jere and Gwoza. That this is coming just weeks after Nigeria – which in 2012 accounted for half of all polio cases worldwide – celebrated two polio-free years, is even more disheartening. The uplifting news is that the Federal Ministry of Health immediately rose to the situation, activating and deploying its National Emergency Response Team. The Team will conduct a polio vaccination campaign targeting one million children in Borno State, and an additional four million children in the neighbouring states of Adamawa, Gombe and Yobe. Also, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) is working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF to conduct a detailed risk analysis to ascertain the extent of circulation of the virus.
Also worth noting is that the Presidential Committee on North-east Interventions (PCNI), which will oversee the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Northeast, is now ready to take off. It will incorporate existing initiatives like the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE), the Safe Schools Initiative, and others, and its primary mandate will be to implement the newly developed Marshall Plan for the region. (Details on this in subsequent editions).
In related news, #NORTHEASTDOESMATTER, the Official Communications Hub for Federal Government of Nigeria’s Interventions, Initiatives, Plans, Actions and Activities for the Rebuilding and Rehabilitation of North-East Nigeria, has now been developed, and will launch this month.