Rotary Foundation Invests $300m To Combat Polio In Nigeria

The chairman of the Board of Trustees for The Rotary International Foundation, Mark Moloney,  has said that the organisation has committed over $300 million to polio eradication efforts in Nigeria.

This funding aimed to support Rotarians in immunisation initiatives across the country, addressing the pressing issue of polio variants.

Moloney, who previously served as Rotary International’s president, made this declaration during a symbolic immunisation event at the Jahi Clinic and Primary Health Centre in Jahi Village in Abuja.

He expressed his admiration for the collaboration between the Rotary Foundation and the Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee, emphasising the importance of their ongoing work.

Speaking to journalists after the event, Moloney responded to the challenges faced by the Nigerian government in combating variant polio type two, stating, “We are very pleased with the work that they are doing. However, the government is facing a significant challenge with the continuation of this variant.”

He pointed out that an alarming 92 cases of the variant had already been reported in 2024.

While commending the Nigerian government’s past success in eradicating wild polio, which was declared eliminated in 2020, he urged a renewed focus on the current variant strains.

“If we can succeed in getting these last few cases of variant polio finished, then the government won’t have to worry about polio in their health programme,” he explained.

Moloney highlighted the importance of continued efforts, commending the government’s polio accountability programme, a commendable initiative that he believes requires sustained attention.

The chairman of the Board of Trustees acknowledged the significant and concerted efforts from Rotarians, as well as support from Nigeria’s president, health minister, and other officials.

When questioned about financial expectations from the Nigerian government, Moloney clarified that exact figures are still to be determined.

“The International Polio Plus Committee is set to meet later this month on January 29 and 30 to discuss allocations.

“We do not allocate funds directly to the government of Nigeria. Instead, we allocate to the World Health Organisation and UNICEF.”

While noting that funds can typically amount to tens of millions annually, he suggested there might be around $50 million allocated to various initiatives, though a significant portion may also go to countries where wild polio is still endemic.

Moloney discussed the ongoing efforts to address polio variants in four Nigerian states, highlighting an already allocated $2 million for the “Healthy Families in Nigeria” programme.

“This initiative aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates by promoting births in medical facilities rather than at home. Initial results show steep increases in facility-based births, with one district experiencing a jump from 11 to 33 percent,” he said.

He confirmed that the Rotary Foundation’s primary global priority remains polio eradication, particularly in Nigeria, where variant strains present ongoing challenges. He also said that each year, up to five years, selected projects receive funding through the Programme of Scale, with particular emphasis on health-related initiatives.

After symbolically administering the polio vaccine to children alongside his wife, May, Mark Maloney is set to hold a town hall meeting with Rotarians from across Nigeria followed by a dinner in his honour before proceeding to Lagos to continue his visit to the country.

Joshua Hassan,  past District Governor and the Chairman of the Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee, said 92 cases of the  variant poliovirus type 2 have been reported as of December 2024

According to him, the cases are concentrated in Northwestern states, particularly Kano, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, and Sokoto.

Hassan likened the persistence of the variant poliovirus to the way mutations occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the necessity of rapid outbreak responses.

Stressing that Rotary Nigeria is committed to the eradication of the variant like it did the wild poliovirus, Hassan said, “These cases are vaccine-derived or variant strains, and they predominantly affect the northwest region. Our strategy involves swift immunizations to contain and prevent further spread”.