The Rotary Club International, Bauchi Central, on Monday embarked on massive sensitisation of residents on routine polio immunisation to mark the 2022 World Polio Day.
Speaking during the programme, Mr Chukwunonso Nwobi, said the idea was to make the people embrace the vaccination against the dreaded disease.
“The fight against polio is a continuous one.
“We have been certified polio free but we need to care for polio survivors.
“We also need to create awareness that people should accept the polio vaccine.
“There are some norms and customs that kick against the vaccines, but we are coming out to create awareness that these vaccines are safe,” Nwobi said.
He also said that the group was disturbed by the physical condition of polio survivors.
“It is something that we can avert,’’ he said.
He, therefore, called on the public to join hands with the club in carrying out the all-important humanitarian service.
Nwobi said that people should be enlightened to know that the fight against polio is a continuous one.
“Polio is at zero and should remain at zero,” he said.
Also, the state Polio Representative of the club, Mr Pam Dauda, said that all hands must be on deck to enhance the compliance level of vaccination.
He urged the state Ministry of Health to continue to prioritise immunisation which, he said, is the most important measure to keep children safe in all situations.
“It is our desire to stop polio and continue with our routine immunisation,” he said.
According to him, the immunisation will definitely take care of our children and economy and our state will be better off.
He thanked the Commissioner for Health, Mr Sabiu Gwalabe, for his continuous support and collaboration with the club on health-related issues.
Gwalabe said that the state had achieved the 95 per cent benchmark in all the conducted supplementary immunisations.
“These are very important indicators in maintaining polio- free status.
He reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to continue to work with all partners in the space of Global Polio Eradication Initiative to ensure that every child is vaccinated.
Abdullahi Adamu, who spoke on behalf of the polio survivors, urged the government to apply stringent measures, including sustainable education and sensitisation, toward ensuring that parents present their children for immunisation.
“We are not happy seeing ourselves the way we are due to negligence.
“Everything possible must be done to save the future generations from polio virus,” Adamu said.
Reports have it that World Polio Day is marked annually on Oct. 24.
It provides an opportunity to highlight global efforts toward a polio-free world.
It also offers an opportunity to honour the unwavering commitment of those in the frontline of the fight to eradicate polio in the world.