The Presidential Task Force on Polio Eradication has charged the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to take micro planning at the area councils seriously, in if it must win the battle to stamp out the menace of poliomyelitis.
Chairman of the Presidential Task Force and Minister of state for Health, Mohammed Pate delivered the charge in Abuja while addressing Olajumoke Akinjide, the FCT minister of state.
Emphasizing the need for thorough supervision of the administering team, he warned that if the administration fails to “do what they are supposed to do, the virus will show the gaps.”
The delegation also tasked Minister of FCT, Mallam Bala Mohammed to hold regular sensitization meetings with the council chairmen, and ensure timely release of counterpart funds for pluses, additional teams and their logistics.
“We have worked tirelessly, given where we where we were and where we are,” Pate said. “We have a few cases and I feel we should not relent to ensure polio eradication.”
He tasked the FCT administration and Area Councils’ authorities on the need to intensify efforts and improve the campaign, considering that the FCT remains the face of the country.
He revealed that there was a case of polio in Abuja and four in the country as whole, as at 8th March 2013.
“It is regrettable that the visit is as a result of the polio outbreak in the territory,” Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide said in her response. “We have taken steps to look at all our processes to scale up our responsibility in conforming with the standard.”
She assured that monies for polio eradication and the arrears will henceforth be deducted from source, saying “We just have to do everything we can to see that it never happens again.”
