Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Group through his Dangote Foundation is determined to eliminate the menace of polio from Nigeria and Africa at large.

Aliko Dangote

The richest man in Africa affirms… “We are close to stopping polio on the continent – but we are not done yet. We want to save the lives of 250,000 children with the application of right vaccines. Unless we protect all children in Africa with the polio vaccine, the risk of the virus spreading will remain. That is why the Dangote Foundation is determined to continue working with Nigeria’s neighbours including Chad, to improve immunization rates and end polio for good.”

“As a Nigerian, I feel that I have a special responsibility to make sure that Africa is free from polio since my country has been the one exporting the virus for so many years. The polio outbreak in Borno a year and a half ago was a big setback. And a lot of work has been done to get it under control. But I’m concerned especially about the risks that still remain. Nigeria cannot reach thousands of settlements, and its islands in Lake Chad because of Boko Haram. And until we do, you will need to be super vigilant on your side.”

“One of the risks I see is the islands on your side in Lake Chad. As Bill mentioned, they are difficult to reach, and they have not been visited on a regular basis by the polio program. I think it would be very helpful if you gave instructions to the military to help transport vaccinators to each of the islands we’ve been talking about – so that they are all visited at least 3-5 times this year. With logistics and planning support from the military, I think you can take the final steps to ensure Chad remains polio-free.”

“If you personally lead a public review of the program every six months – with the Ministers of Health, Interior, Finance and Communication – along with the Governors and administration, traditional and religious leaders, it would send a clear signal that it is not business as usual. I would be happy to come back for your first review, if you conduct it mid-year.”

“Like Nigeria, Chad needs to spend more of its own money on routine immunization. If we cannot immunize our own children to protect them from disease, they have failed them. My recommendation is that you establish a clear budget line for routine immunization in the annual budget at least 40%. That would get you back to the level of commitment the government was making in 2012. Bill and I will work hard with the global partners to try to secure the rest.”

Bill Gates and Alhaji Aliko Dangote

Besides, Dangote Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have been working tirelessly to ensure that the widespread of polio is eliminated in Africa.