VZCZCXRO4853
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #0222/01 0371332
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061332Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5208
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 0769
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000222 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR OES/IHA DANO WILUSZ 
USAID FOR GH/HIDN ELLYN OGDEN, RICHARD GREENE 
AND FOR AFR/SD MARY HARVEY 
CDC FOR NCIRD/GID/DEEB SUE GERBER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO KISL PGOV PREL SOCI ECON KOCI EAID NI
SUBJECT:  NIGERIA: GOVERNORS PROMISE TO KEEP THEIR STATES POLIO-FREE 
 
REF: A. 08 ABUJA 2515 
      ¶B. 08 ABUJA 2129 
      ¶C. 08 ABUJA 1591 
      ¶D. 08 ABUJA 815 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Sustained engagement by the Ambassador and other 
senior staff has yielded positive results in the battle to eradicate 
polio in Nigeria.  The Ambassador's advocacy with Kwara State 
Governor Bukola Saraki has led the Governor's Forum to give polio 
eradication a priority and to engage in a more vigorous partnership 
with the Ministry of Health.  On February 2, the Government of 
Nigeria (GON) and 36 states adopted a five-point strategy that 
mirrors the interagency recommendations that the Ambassador 
presented to the Governor for combating the wild polio virus (WPV), 
including pledging to make their states polio free.  These are 
encouraging signs and may lead to improved results in polio 
eradication.  The interagency recommendations are listed in par 5. 
End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador met on December 17 with Kwara State Governor 
and Governors' Forum Chair Bukola Saraki and advocated that strong 
local leadership was necessary for eradicating the WPV in the 
country (reftel A).  Saraki promised to include polio on the January 
28, 2009 agenda for the Governors' Forum and requested specific 
recommendations that would advance the fight against polio.  On 
December 28, 2008 the Ambassador sent a letter to Saraki containing 
a six-point recommendation, the list of which is provided in 
paragraph 5 below.  (Comment: Saraki as Chairman of the Nigerian 
Governors' Forum is playing a leading role in rallying the support 
of his fellow governors to stop the spread of the polio epidemic. 
End comment.)  Saraki followed through on his promise to the 
Ambassador and took actions that have resulted in several 
pronouncements by the Governors' Forum and the GON.  He also sent a 
follow up letter to the Ambassador.  (Comment: Mission is optimistic 
that, if implemented, these pronouncements will result in 
significant progress in the fight against polio. End comment). 
 
¶3. (U) The media reported on January 29 (and confirmed by GON 
contacts and by Saraki in a conversation with the Ambassador) that 
the governors at the Forum agreed to partner with the Ministry of 
Health to stop the polio epidemic and improve primary health care 
delivery at the state and local levels.  In addition, the 
newly-appointed Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, 
gave a presentation and offered to work more closely with the 
governors on polio.  The governors for their part promised to remain 
actively engaged and encouraged Local Government Area Councils to 
provide leadership and periodic status updates on polio at the State 
Executive Council meetings.  On February 2, in another positive sign 
of continued progress, the GON and 36 states adopted a five-point 
strategy that mirrors the interagency document presented by the 
Ambassador on combating WPV. 
 
¶4. (U) COMMENT:  Team Nigeria is encouraged that the Governors' 
Forum and the GON have given polio eradication top priority and 
adopted a strategy for tackling it.  We are also pleased that the 
newly-appointed Minister of Health addressed the Forum and briefed 
governors on the polio situation and what needs to be done to combat 
it successfully.  Mission Nigeria has worked closely with the new 
Minister and the leadership at the National Primary Health Care 
Development Agency from the time of their appointment pushing 
successfully for much better harmony among concerned agencies of the 
Nigerian government.  We are optimistic that this new synergy and 
focus will lead to improved coordination and local ownership of the 
polio campaign, and ultimately in better results in disrupting the 
virus' spread in Nigeria.  The Ambassador and other senior Mission 
staff will continue to engage governors, key federal officials and 
other stakeholders and encourage sustained action on polio. 
 
¶5. (U) Summary of the interagency recommendations presented by the 
Ambassador: 
 
-- State Polio Taskforces, through Commissioners of Health, can 
regularly report to their respective Governors on the polio 
situation in their states on the preparation for, the conduct of 
anti-polio campaigns, and the results achieved.  They could also 
coordinate activities with neighboring states, the Federal 
Government, and donor implementing partners; 
 
-- More advanced pre-planning as well as more state funding, 
particularly with transportation could help in the better execution 
of polio campaigns in each LGA; 
 
-- Cold storage facilities for vaccines are needed as well as more 
 
ABUJA 00000222  002 OF 002 
 
 
training for vaccine workers.  Public awareness is such a big part 
of the success of these campaigns, so more public mobilization by 
LGA authorities can help achieve better success; 
 
-- Oversight of the campaign by senior state officials on the ground 
will help you assess the success of the campaigns; 
 
-- Public recognition by Governors of LGAs that have successful 
campaigns can encourage better outcomes and address challenges for 
future successful challenges; and 
 
-- Making routine immunization a part of your state 
program can have significant impact on improving the 
health of children. Maintenance of child health cards are 
key for proper immunization coverage.  Incentives may 
need to be devised to encourage mothers to safeguard 
these cards, particularly for children above age one. 
 
¶6.  This cable was cleared by Consulate Lagos. 
 
SANDERS