Rotary Club of Abuja held its annual ‘End Polio Now’ sensitisation walk in Abuja yesterday to combat polio and promote vaccination in the territory.
Participants included Rotarians, healthcare professionals and volunteers, united in the mission to highlight the critical need for vaccination.
The event, which took participants from the Old Parade Ground to Area 1 and back aimed to bolster awareness of polio’s status in Nigeria and worldwide.
President of the club, Oluwafunmi Elufioye, emphasised the importance of continued vigilance, saying though Nigeria was declared wild polio-free in 2020, the circulation of vaccine-derived polio virus type 2 still posed risks.
Elufioye said the fight against polio was far from over as the disease could still be transmitted globally.
She shared that Rotary is one of the foremost global donors in the eradication of polio, stating, “We support with vaccines and funds. Each Rotarian contributes to the PolioPlus Fund, and with matching donations from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, our efforts are sustained.”
Similarly, Rotary Club of Abuja High-Rise, in partnership with the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, has taken its medical outreach to New Kuchingoro IDP Camp in the FCT, providing essential healthcare services to the internally displaced persons.
Mariam Ahmed Abdullah, president of the Rotary Club of Abuja High-Rise, disclosed that this effort was part of the club’s commitment to serve humanity and address the needs of vulnerable communities.
She said the programme aligned with the organisation’s focus areas, including disease prevention and treatment, health and wellness, community development, by providing medical services to the IDP camp, the Rotary Club aims to improve the health and well-being of the residents, particularly children and women.
Rotary Club of Abuja Asokoro Diamond, also in partnership with Silver Cross Hospital, commemorated the 2024 World Polio Day with a community outreach programme in Jiwa Gwalada, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The event, themed “Ending Polio, Enhancing Lives,” aimed to raise awareness on polio eradication, provide vital healthcare services, and support vulnerable families and to celebrate the Rotary Action for Family Health and Aids Prevention, from which over 500 community members benefited .
The president, Rtn. Dan Agbofode, noted Nigeria’s significant progress in polio reduction, with a 95% decline in cases since 2009. He reiterated the club’s commitment to eradicating polio and improving healthcare outcomes in remote communities.
