Members of Rotary Clubs in Kwara stormed major streets of Ilorin on Wednesday sensitised residents on the danger associated with polio and the need to immunise children to end the virus in the State.
The awareness campaign came amidst the declaration from the global health organization that Nigeria is polio-free.
But in spite of the zero presence of the disease in the country, every 24th of October has been earmarked to mark World Polio Day in countries across the globe.
Members of Rotary Club, who moved in a convoy of vehicles and horses from different streets, talked about the importance of vaccination to guide and guard against the killer virus.
The procession made stopovers at Ita-Ajia, Idi-Ape junctions and Oja-Oba markets where traders were enlightened to partake in routine immunization in the interest of well well-being of their families.
The awareness creation also provided an opportunity to douse tension and dismiss the myths already created to discourage parents and guardians from immunizing their children and wards.
Addressing journalists at the rally to commemorate the World Polio Day, the Past President Rotary Club of Ilorin Metro and Rotary Club International Polio Representative for Kwara 2023-2024, Youssef Sanders, described polio as a terrible disease.
“Every 24th or October has been selected as the world polio day. Polio is a terrible disease that has been there for a long time. And we are trying our best as Rotarians to lend support across the world.
“Since this effort started in 1985, over 2.5 billion children have been immunized so far. The reason we are out is to create awareness for the people of Kwara about this dangerous disease so that it will not be in our communities,” Sanders said.
Also speaking, the President, Rotary Club of Ilorin, Yinka Hassan Okoh, said the rally was to create awareness globally on the endemic nature of polio, urging the people to take advantage of routine immunization to get their children vaccinated.
Another Rotary Club President, Mrs Christy Oluwole-Abayomi, said it was necessary to embark on public enlightenment for Nigeria to sustain its zero level of polio.
“We are delighted with responses from the people, we are at zero level in Nigeria but we still have two countries that are experiencing polio in the world. We travel but we don’t want re-infection. That is why we are doing this sensitization,” she assured.
Mrs Oluwole-Abayomi promised that the sensitization would be a continuum so as to ensure that all children are immunised.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State flagged off the sensitization programme through the Executive Secretary, state Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Nusirat Elelu, at Government House, Ilorin.
. TheWitness
