§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assurances his Department has(a) sought and (b) received from the Government of Nigeria concerning the effect of unrest in the Plateau region on the announced resumption of polio vaccinations in Kano state; and if he will make a statement. [175117]
Mr. Gareth ThomasThe unrest in Plateau State, which unfortunately spilled over into neighbouring states, especially Kano, is not related to the ongoing polio controversy. It is the view of DFID Nigeria and of the Nigerian Government that this unrest will not have any significant impact on the resumption of polio vaccinations in Kano State. This resumption depends entirely on whether the Kano State scientists are satisfied that there are no contaminants in the vaccines currently being procured from Indonesia.
The DFID team in Nigeria is in regular dialogue with the Government of Nigeria and with other international partners in Nigeria regarding the polio crisis. DFID is one of the principal financiers of the World Health Organization's "Polio Eradication Initiative". DFID is working actively with key stakeholders across northern Nigeria to ensure that immunization programmes, including polio, are implemented effectively in a way that is acceptable to the general public and to their political and religious leaders.