Masaka: Mr. Michael McGovern, Chairman of Rotary International’s PolioPlus Committee, revealed that the organization allocates $150 million annually towards the eradication of polio in Nigeria. McGovern made this announcement during a symbolic immunization exercise at the Masaka Primary Healthcare Centre in Masaka, Nasarawa State, where he led a delegation of Rotary officials.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, McGovern stated that Rotary has invested nearly three billion dollars globally in polio eradication efforts over the years. He highlighted that these funds have significantly contributed to preventing 20 million children from becoming disabled due to polio. McGovern emphasized the importance of immunization in safeguarding children’s health, urging citizens to support routine vaccinations for diseases such as measles and polio.
McGovern stressed the necessity for the government to maintain a robust immunization program and to continue providing polio drops to children across Nigeria. Carol Pandak, Director of the Polio Plus Programme, praised local governments and frontline workers for their dedication to immunizing children against polio and other diseases. She also encouraged Nigerian communities to prioritize immunization to protect children from various vaccine-preventable diseases.
Two mothers, Mrs. Alheri Dogo and Mrs. Ibrahim Gambo, shared their experiences, expressing their commitment to ensuring their children receive necessary immunizations. They commended Rotary’s efforts in protecting Nigerian children from polio and called for increased awareness about the importance of immunization.
Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children under five years of age. The disease spreads mainly through the fecal-oral route and can lead to paralysis by invading the nervous system. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative, launched by the World Health Assembly in 1988, is a collaborative effort involving national governments, the World Health Organization, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, and Gavi, aimed at eliminating polio worldwide.