Billionaire philanthropists Bill Gates,UN Secretary General and Aliko Dangote have applauded the declaration of Nigeria by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as being polio-free.
The global health body on Tuesday certified Nigeria and the rest of Africa polio-free.
The WHO Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) said the major milestone was achieved four years after the last recorded cases of wild polio in the country.
In a tweet, Gates said that the remarkable achievement was a step closer to global polio eradication.
“Today, we move one step closer toward a world without polio. This is an incredible milestone that’s worth celebrating. It is also an important reminder of what can be accomplished when we work together toward a common goal,” he tweeted.
In his remarks, Africa’s richest man, Dangote, said that the polio-free Africa was an indication that the fight to end polio globally was possible.
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“Today we celebrate a polio-free Africa, the result of decades of vaccination, hard work, collaboration. Tomorrow we get back to work, to ensure wild polio does not come back. Together, we all can #EndPolio globally,” he tweeted.
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, also tweeted via his official Twitter account that the declaration filled him with optimism that a lot could be achieved through global efforts.
“Africa has been declared free of polio today.
“This historic milestone fills me with hope and optimism.
“We can achieve so much when we work together as a global community.”
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Board Chair, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), felicitated with the President, Muhammadu Buhari and his predecessors.
“A great day for Nigeria and Africa. Nigeria receives polio-free Certificate from WHO.
“Africa declared PolioFree. Congratulations Nigerians on this great achievement. Congrats to President
M Buhari, President GE Jonathan, President Obasanjo, PHDA, GAVI, Gates Foundation,” she tweeted.
