Rotary club reiterates commitment to ensure zero polio status 

The Bauchi State Polio Representative, Rotary Club International, Mr Nonso Nwobi, says the club is committed to ensuring the country’s zero polio status. He made the club’s commitment known at the end of a polio awareness walk to commemorate the 2023 World Polio Day, organised by Rotary Club International, Bauchi State chapter on Tuesday.

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The day is annually marked on Oct. 24 to highlight global efforts to eliminate polio and the importance of vaccination in protecting children from the disease. It could be recalled that Nigeria was certified polio-free in August 2020, while Bauchi State had been declared polio-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 2013.

Nwobi, therefore, said that the polio awareness walk was to encourage people to accept the polio vaccine and also get their wards vaccinated.

He said: “I want to thank the polio survivors in the state for taking out time to come out for this awareness walk. Nigeria has been certified polio-free and we will not rest on our oars until the disease is eliminated for good. There is need to encourage people to come out and take the vaccine so as to maintain the zero-polio status. There are many misconceptions and myths prohibiting people from taking the vaccine but we are here to tell them that the vaccine is safe.”

Mr Pam Dauda, the President, Rotary Club International in Bauchi State, said that the club was making available
the vaccines free of charge, adding that anybody that took it was effectively protected against the disease.

He however enjoined stakeholders to join hands with the club in ensuring that every deserving child was vaccinated
and polio remained at zero in the state and the country at large.

NAN/Wumi