Ade Adepitan, A Paralympian born in Nigeria but grew up in London has polio as a child at 6 months so he lost both use of his legs. He went back to Nigeria to see why the virus is still there. It should have been eradicated ages ago but errrrrm, its still very much there mostly in the North.
So in the whole world, Polio is left in only 3 countries and guess what! With all the money Nigeria has from oil, its the only country in Africa that has not kicked polio out. Other two countries are some parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. So the likes of Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Ghana and lots more African countries have gotten rid of this virus.
Well Ade went back to Nigeria and particularly the Northern part of Nigeria, Kano, Sokoto and its suburbs to see what is going on and what can be done.
The excuse of the families that have refused the polio vaccine ranges from the fact that the vaccine is from the "white witches", its Western and the Northerners are against anything Western, they also said it sterilizes their children and its free, so there must be something not right. The Northerners killed the "vaccinators" and their police escorts! They hate it that much, but what are the implications of not having it?
It cripples children, from my time in Nigeria, i had no clue most of those people that can't walk that i see around on little rolling things are polio victims.
Some old, some very young, but this virus is no respectal of person, don't get the vaccine, get polio, its that simple.
Worse thing is, there are loads of disable people in Nigeria but the facilities are awful. No wheelchair access in most places. Its all made for able bodied people........
Some of these Northerners are still adamant on not taking the vaccine and I'm not sure what the government is doing about it. If they are refusing it from NGOs, why not give the vaccines to the Northerners, people that speak same language as the locals and let them go and administer it. Rather than getting innocent people trying to help killed!
How about the local leaders campaigning and helping people see reasons why its important to be vacinnated.
Apparently Bill Gates has a foundation that is looking into the eradication of Polio. While our own leaders couldn't care less. Bill Gates is not even a Christian or a Muslim, neither is he in any way related to any Nigerian or any African country but yet, he is helping and in that country, there are countless Millionaires, Billionaires that could not be asked. They probably didn't even notice or see the need to help.
Watch some of the clips HERE
Nigerians are meant to be the giants of Africa and yet, lagging behind in things like this is disgraceful.
This is really sad.
3 comments:
That was a shocking documentary. I am not surprised though.
It is illiteracy and stupidity.
Their illiteracy can still be managed tho, think about these kids that can't make a decision on their own.
You'll be surprised that it's the northern leaders that is advising the poor people not to accept vaccine and they bn stupid illiterate, they just follow obey without thinking it through.
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