By ODEYA OGBETUO
Rotary International, District 9141 Governor, Rotarian Emeke Manasseh Utebor has called on all Rotarians and friends of Rotary to fully support Rotary Club to actualize its desire to eradicate polio worldwide.
Rotarian Utebor made this call while declaring open the 2 days Joint Rotary Foundation and Polio Plus Seminar and Foundation Dinner organized by the District in Effurun/Warri Zone, Delta State.
Rotarian Utebor said that Rotarians in District 9141 are dedicated with a collective mission to eradicate the debilitating scourge of polio, adding that the polio plus seminar remains a target to make a difference in touching the lives of millions of children across the globe.
He disclosed that District 9141 has emerged a beacon of hope with determination in raising awareness, mobilizing resources and implementing vaccination programmes which has obviously reduced the incidence of polio and this has inspired others to join this noble course.
According to him “The impact of your collective actions goes beyond statistics; it resonates in the stories of children who are now free from the shackles of polio and are able to pursue their dreams without the burden of disability.”
“The Rotary Polio Plus Seminar provides us an invaluable opportunity to reflect on our experiences, and strengthens our resolve to face the challenges that lie ahead. As we celebrate the progress made, let us acknowledge that our work is not yet done as polio is still a threat in certain places of the world and we must remain vigilant, united and determined to reach every child with a life-saving polio vaccine.”
Rotarian Utebor commended Rotarians in the District for championing the course, spreading awareness and engaging with communities to ensure no child is left vulnerable to this preventable disease, urging them to continue contributing to the Rotary global effort to eradicate polio.
In a lecture title: “Progress so far in Nigeria Polio Eradication Effort, Rotarian Ambassador Aminu Mohammad said that great impact has been made in tacking the CVPV2 outbreak in Nigeria, adding that the major task ahead of them is to ensure that States and Local Government leaders improve on their ownership of the programme by strengthening campaign against polio, noting that the challenges ranges from insecurity, poor funding, as well as non-compliance in some areas which hindered access to children in some states.
Sustaining Our Progress and the Role of Rotary in Keeping Nigeria Polio-free, the past District Governor, PDG Rotarian Andy Uwejeyan said that Rotary will not rest until polio is totally eradicated from the surface of the earth; adding that the good news is that polio will be the second human disease in history to be eradicated.
He said in 1988, about 124 countries have polio but has now reduced to about 4 to 6 countries still with polio virus, adding that they have so far vaccinated three (3) billion children worldwide and have prevented the spread of polio virus, noting that in 2020, Nigeria became polio free country.
“Polio Anywhere in Polio Everywhere.” We have a strategy to stop polio by 2026. We need 4.6 billion dollars to accomplish total eradication of polio worldwide.”
Dr. Ojimah Chibianotu of the World Health Organization (WHO) who talked about types of poliomyelitis and the eradication said that polio attacks children between ages one to five years and early detection will help to cure it. He said in 1988 the World Health Assembly resolved to eradicate polio and by 2005, only Pakistan, Nigeria and India are still with poliomyelitis, stressing that from 1988 to 2022 Global progress was made toward polio eradication.
The District Governor Elect, Rotarian Chinedu Ikegwani (2024-2025) talked about Rotary Global Grants and how clubs could access the grants, club membership growth, humanitarian needs and contributions to the District among others.
For his presentation, Rotarian Olugbenga Olayiwole said that we (Rotarians) need innovative approaches for fundraising and advocacy to help mobilize resources that will end polio.
“We need new approaches for awareness creation. We are almost there. We have conquered wild polio. We have successfully eradicated 2 out of 3 forms of viruses” he added.
Various Clubs in the Districts were given awards based on their contributions to the success of activities of the District and members were urged to continue to contribute to the activities of the Rotary Club in promoting humanitarian services.
