* Polio victims 
Dr Mansur Dada, Head of Bauchi State Polio Emergency Operation Centre, has said that the recent statement that Nigeria had been removed from the list of "polio endemic" countries did not mean that the country had been declared "polio-free".

 Addressing journalists  in Bauchi, Dada said that what was meant by the statement was that Nigeria had not recorded any case of polio for 12 consecutive months, therefore the virus had been interrupted.

 According to him, the campaign against the disease wIll continue and if after 21 months from now, no new cases are reported, the country may be declared polio-free.

 He therefore appealed to authorities concerned to cooperate with the centre in the fight to eradicate the wild virus polio.

 “We are appealing to the traditional, religious as well as the community leaders, to cooperate in ensuring the success of the polio eradication exercise.

 “Routine immunization and surveillance by the Centre,will continue,” he added.

 Dada expressed optimism that that by July 24th 2017, Nigeria would be certified free of the virus if no new cases were recorded.

 He however said that there was still work to be done in some states in the northern part of the country, especially those in the far North. (NAN)