Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara on Monday said that his administration would ensure that the state maintained its three years polio-free status.

Ahmed gave the assurance at the inauguration of the second round of the National Immunisation Plus Day at the Adewole Cottage Hospital, Ilorin in Ilorin West Local Government area.

He said that the state had not recorded any case of polio since 2009.

"I am pleased to report that in the last three years no case of Wild Polio Virus or Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio has been reported.

"In spite of this achievement, Kwara remains committed to maintain its polio-free status, especially as we share borders with some states and countries that are still recording polio cases," Ahmed said.

He said it was unfortunate that the country contributed 92 per cent of the polio burden in African region, "making it one of the three countries in the world where poliomyelitis has remained a major health issue’’.

The governor attributed the polio-free status of the state to the efforts of the surveillance team and the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

He also said that it was made possible with the assistance of other developmental partners as well as the routine immunisation staff and healthcare workers in the state.

Ahmed said that immunisation remained the most cost effective means of eradicating poliomyelitis and other childhood killer diseases.

"There are many preventable illnesses and deaths which can be overcome through effective and efficient public health intervention," he added.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Kayode Issa, said that strengthening the existing healthcare structure was the best way to fight vaccine preventable diseases like poliomyelitis.

He identified routine immunisation, supplemental immunisation action, integrated supported supervision and active surveillance as the best methods to prevent the disease.

Hajia Tawakalitu Abdulkadir, the Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government area, commended the efforts being made by the state government to eradicate polio.

Abdulkadir, who was represented by her Vice Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Soliu, said that this was a clear demonstration of the commitment to the building of sustainable development in the country.

She appealed to mothers to ensure that their children within the ages of zero to five were immunised against polio to prevent the outbreak of the disease. (NAN)