Rotary Club vaccinates over 2.5 billion children against polio worldwide
By Tunde Akanbi, Ilorin
Rotary Club has vaccinated over 2.5billion children against Polio worldwide since the campaign started in 1985 in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), and the UNICEF.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, North Central Nigeria, in commemoration of the World Polio Day, the Past president Rotary Club of Ilorin Metro and Kwara state Polio Representative 2023-2024, Youssef Sanders said that the battle to eliminate Polio is not yet won.
“Polio still poses a threat because it is an infectious disease and there is much work to be done. It is crucial for the general populace to support organizations like Rotary International in our relentless efforts to reach every child with the polio vaccine,” he said.
Sanders, who said that Polio used to be a devastating scourge, added that the disease had been on the brink of eradication globally for several years.
“Rotary International in partnership with organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF have made substantial progress toward eradicating polio worldwide. Nigeria, once considered one of the last strongholds of the virus, has made
remarkable strides thanks to these combined efforts.
“It used to be PAN, (PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN and NIGERIA). Today it’s Pakistan and Afghanistan,” he said.
He also said that Rotary’s work has played a pivotal role in bringing us closer to a polio free world in Kwara state, Nigeria, while commending both the federal and state governments for providing right leadership in that regard.
Also speaking, the past president, Rotary Club of Ilorin, GRA, Dr. Olutoye Michael, said that Kwara state is free of Polio, adding that the campaign against Polio has to continue because the virus is infectious and the world is a global village.
“The world is a global village and somebody can get infected in Mozambique, Africa here and a few hours later he finds himself in another country like Nigeria, and it can spread so easily. That is why we keep up awareness campaigns and vaccination,” he said.
