Rotary Clubs walk to kick polio out of Nigeria

7 years ago

Rotary Clubs walk to kick polio out of Nigeria

Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove Estate in collaboration with Rotary Clubs of Ilupeju Central, Lagos Island and Igbobi Central at the weekend carried out polio walk across Lagos communities to mark the World Polio Week.

The Assistant Governor, Eboigbe Olaiye, who represented the District Governor, Rotary International, District 9110, comprising Lagos and Ogun states, Patrick Ikheloa, said the purpose of the walk was to create awareness of polio.

He called on parents to take their children to the nearest primary health centre for polio immunisation, while urging government to create more awareness and extend same to rural areas since the vaccines are free.

The Chairman, Polio Service and Blood Donation, Santoch Kakade, said the sudden outbreak of polio again had called for more sensitisation in Nigeria.
Also, the Rotary International District 9110, last Saturday brought together students from various schools with a target of 4,500 to break the 4,200 Human Mosaic record with the aim of ending polio in Nigeria.

The Chairman, Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee of Rotary International and Past District Governor, Dr. Tunji Funsho, said the purpose was to create more awareness towards eradication of polio in Nigeria.

“We want to beat the Guinness World Record of Human Mosaic using End Polio Now campaign by increasing the current record of 4,200 people to 4,500,” he said.

District Governor nominee, Rotary International, District 9110, Dr. Wale Ogunbadejo, called on every Nigerian, especially nursing mothers, to co-operate with the health officials and ensure that Nigeria is removed from the remaining three polio endemic nations in the world.

Chairman, Public Relations and Public Image Committee, Rotary International, District 9110, Ramesh Biswal, specifically called on parents to visit primary health centres closest to them to get free polio vaccines for their children.

President, Rotary Club of Maryland, Tunde Ojo, whose club donated three wheelchairs for three victims of polio, Jubril Musa, Amodu Zakari and Abdulahi Mohammed, said his club had been partnering with polio survivors in the past six years.

In a related development, the Rotary Club of Amuwo also staged an awareness campaign through the media on plans to eradicate the disease.They called on members of the public to donate towards the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Polio funds.

The President, Aniekan Essienette, said: “Our call to action is to enlighten the public to report any new case of limb weakness among children between the ages of zero- 15 years, to the local council authorities or World Health Organisation (WHO) offices, very close to them,” he said.