US embassy cable - 04ABUJA363

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000363 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W, USAID/W FOR AFR/WA, MICHAEL KARBELING, 
GH/AA, ANN PETERSON, HOPE SUKIN GH/CH SURVIVAL, 
CONNIE NEWMAN 
LAGOS FOR ADMIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, SOCI, NI, AID 
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: STATUS OF POLIO ERADICATION INITIATIVE 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.   This cable highlights the current situation related to 
polio eradication in Nigeria. 
 
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BACKGROUND 
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2.   Nigeria is the largest remaining polio reservoir 
globally. As recently as mid-2003, transmission was confined 
to the northern portion of the country in just 8 states and 
the Federal Capitol Territory (FCT), with most of the cases 
occurring in Kano State. Since August 2003, the virus has 
spread from the north of Nigeria into an additional 15 
previously polio-free states as well as nine neighboring 
countries, some of which had been polio-free for as long as 
two years. 
 
3.   The most recent NIDS, February 23 ? 25, 2004 were 
conducted in 32 States and the FCT. Kano and Zamfara States 
did not participate due to controversy over the safety of 
the oral polio vaccine. Some Local Government Areas (LGA) in 
Niger State and one LGA in Bauchi State did not participate 
also due to the controversy. 
 
4.   In order to deal with this controversy surrounding the 
safety of the oral polio vaccine and at the request of the 
Jamat Nasril Islam (JNI).  JNI is the highest decision 
making body for the Islamic religion in Nigeria, chaired by 
the Sultan of Sokoto and all First Class Emirs in the North 
including selected Islamic scholars.   The GON sent 25 
scientists, religious and traditional leaders, northern 
state government officials and federal government officials 
and the press to South Africa, India and Indonesia.  The 
purpose of the trip was to conduct tests on the oral polio 
vaccine with a view to exonerating the existence of any 
contaminants.  All test reports are in except those from 
India, which are expected by February 29, 2004.  Zamfara and 
Kano States are awaiting the complete test results before 
going forward with the NIDs. 
 
5.   There are positive indications that 2 out of 3 (South 
Africa and Indonesia) test results to date confirm the 
safety of the oral polio vaccine.  Results from India are 
still pending. 
 
6.   It is important to note that the representative of the 
Sultan of Sokoto who was one of the religious leaders 
visiting South Africa, India and Indonesia, was unequivocal 
about his conviction that the vaccine is safe and free from 
contaminants.  Answering questions from a BBC reporter, he 
further affirmed that he was going home to ensure that his 
children are vaccinated and called on all Muslims to do the 
same. Sokoto participated in the recent round of NIDS due to 
this support from the Sultan's Representative. 
 
7.   The Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, Kul Ganthem, 
was featured on CNN?s Inside Africa 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 
February 28, 2004.  He gave more balanced view of the 
situation in Nigeria than previous CNN reports. 
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NEXT STEPS 
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8.   Receipt of final test results from India, which are 
expected by February 29th. 
 
9.   Confirmation that the final tests confirm the safety of 
the vaccine. 
 
10.  A positive announcement is expected by March 11, 2004 
confirming the safety of test results.  The President of 
Nigeria is expected to meet with all 36 governors and 
religious leaders to dialogue about polio eradication, tests 
results and a way forward. 
 
11.  Moving forward with the NIDS in Kano and Zamfara States 
as well as previously reluctant LGAs in Niger and Bauchi 
States.   These States and LGAs will then join the rest of 
Nigeria in the second round of NIDs scheduled for March 25 ? 
April 1, 2004. 
 
12.  UNICEF and WHO are attempting to get Professor Gambari, 
Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Deputy 
Secretary General of the United Nations, who is a Nigerian 
 
SIPDIS 
from Kwara State, to come to Nigeria and dialogue with the 
President and 19 Northern State governors on polio 
eradication. 
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USG SUPPORT 
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13.  The USG will support this second round of NIDS by: (1) 
training over 50,000 vaccinators and supervisors, (2) 
developing key behavior change communication messages for 
leaders and communities, and (3) providing continued support 
to polio surveillance through a grant to the World Health 
Organization. 
 
14.  In addition, the USG will support a special 
participatory planning and action process that will ensure 
community ownership of the polio eradication initiative in 
Kano State. Kano State has specifically requested USG 
support to implement this community approach, which was 
previously used to ensure the success of child survival 
interventions, to facilitate polio eradication. With the 
active support of communities and their leaders, it is 
anticipated that all children under five will be vaccinated. 
This approach will also be supported, for the first time, by 
the National Program on Immunization (NPI), WHO and UNICEF. 
 
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CONCLUSION 
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15.  The critical element in moving the program forward at 
this time is confirmation of vaccine safety from final test 
results from India.  There are indications that the results 
on vaccine safety will be positive.  All donors are 
therefore ready to assist the GON to disseminate the 
findings of the test results and advocate to all religious, 
traditional and political leaders that they mobilize their 
communities thereby ensuring that all children under five 
are vaccinated in the next round of NIDS scheduled for March 
25 to April 01, 2004. Kano and Zamafara States who have not 
as yet had a first round of NIDS will be targeted for a 
special supplemental NIDS from April 29 to May 04, 2004 in 
addition to the March 25 to April 01, 2004 NIDs. 
 
16.  To ensure sustained polio eradication, efforts must 
also be made to strengthen the routine immunization system 
and move coverage from the current below 20 percent to 80 
percent. 
 
17.  Post will provide regular reports on progress in the 
effort to eradicate polio in Nigeria. 
 
ANYASO