World Polio Day: Rotary appeals to government to sustain support

By Kingsley Chukwuka

AS part of efforts to ensure that Polio does not surge in Nigeria after being declared Polio free, Rotary International has beseeched the government, and other critical stakeholders not to relent in its efforts of keeping it aby.

Rotary implored government at all levels to ensure continuous immunization, rapid outbreak response, enhanced surveillance and fundraising to ensure complete eradication of Polio disease.

Jane Egbo, the District Polio Plus Committee, zone 4 Rep, made the call after a road walk in Jos, the Plateau State capital to sensitize the public on how to sustain the prevention and eradication of Polio.

The long road walk which was part of efforts to mark World Polio Day, also had all Rotarians on the Plateau comprising the seven clubs and Rotractors including members of Jos South Local Government Area.

Speaking at the Jos South LGA, Egbo said: “As we celebrate this year’s World Polio Day, I invite us to reflect on our main job, ‘Keep Polio at Zero’ in Nigeria.

“With the re-emergence of vaccine-derived polio cases in Nigeria, as well as in regions of Malawi, Mozambique, Israel and USA, there is a great need to remain vigilant. We cannot afford to let our efforts of many decades be in vain.

“I encourage us to double our momentum towards continuous immunization, rapid outbreak response, enhanced surveillance, fundraising, awareness, and advocacies”, she said.

Our correspondent reports that as part of efforts to mark World Polio Day, Rotarians on the Plateau gave out 10 wheelchairs to Polio patients with 250 children between the ages of 0-5 years immunized.

The wheelchairs were given to them not to go and engage in begging for arms but to go to school, Egbo said.

However, the Jos South LGA Chairman, Amb. Gideon Dandereng was decorated as a Polio Ambassador for contributing to the Polio fund.