War Against Polio Winnable, Says Rotary Governor

District Governor of Rotary International District 9127, Engr. Sikiru Adetona Owonikoko has declared that the war against polio disease is winnable.

He said the EndPolioNow campaign of Rotary International has saved over 20m children from being crippled.

Owonikoko appealed to Nigerians to immunise their children against poliomyelitis.

He asked Rotarians not to give up the campaign until Polio is completely eradicated.

The Rotary chief pleaded with district members to mark World Polio Day on 24 October with renewed vigour to end the disease.

Owonikoko, who made the submissions at the unveiling of three sensitisation billboards at three strategic locations in Abuja by the District, the Rotary Club of Abuja Metro, and friends of the District, said polio remains endemic in two countries.

He said, “With the commitment of Rotary International since 1985, we have shown that the war against Polio is winnable. It is a disease we have proved to the world can be eradicated.

“I appeal to Rotarians in this district not to give up until we ensure complete eradication of Polio in the world.

“We have saved more than 20m children from paralysis. As we mark this year’s World Polio Day, we should rededicate ourselves to immunisation of children. “

On his part, the president of the Rotary Club of Abuja Metro, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, said: “What we are doing here is raising awareness of the effects of polio. And you know communication is 90% of the job.

“When people don’t know an epidemic is still around, they take it easy. When we take it easy, bad things happen. Awareness of fighting Polio is critical.

“We want to present these billboards as reminders that our work is not yet done until we eradicate the disease completely, such that in the next 100 or 200 years, humanity will talk about it as history, not as something active. Then our job is sorted”.