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…hails Nigeria’s efforts, Rotarians’ sacrifices
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
President of Rotary International, Francesco Arezzo, has warned against any form of relax or complacency in the efforts to eradicate wild polio virus across the surface of the earth.
He dropped the warning in Abuja, on Wednesday, during an interactive session with journalists and the leadership of Rotary Clubs in Nigeria as part of his official visit to Nigeria in company of his spouse.
He also performed and monitored immunization exercise at a Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Garki Area 2, Abuja, as part of support and moral booster for healthcare workers, and encouragement for mothers to ensure they complete the immunization circle for health and wellbeing of their babies.
He specifically acknowledged the commitment of Rotarians in Nigeria who had dedicated themselves to community services in Nigeria and beyond despite numerous challenges that could have demotivated them; and encourage them to sustain the momentum till the end.
He noted that even though Nigeria has been declared wild polio virus free, the country is a flight away from a new case of wild polio virus considering its porous borders until the entire world is polio free. “We need to keep our guard because we promised the world that we would end polio, and we have significantly achieved that. Nevertheless, a polio case anywhere in the world is still a threat to the global community.
“Hence, we need to sustain immunization and sensitization campaigns across our communities. In Nigeria, a great achievement has been made, but there’s still the case of vaccine-derived polio in some locations in the country especially in northern states. This is a wake-up call to all that the “fight” is far from being over.”
Dr. Joy Nky Okoro, the District Governor, Rotary International D9127, in her remarks, said the visit of the President was a big moral booster for the leadership and members of Rotary Clubs in Nigeria, as well as the entire country.
She said: “We are happy with this visit. It has afforded us the opportunity to freely interact with the President of the Rotary International. He is here to assess what we have done and what wee are doing, and so far. So far, he is impressed with the success we have recorded. Nevertheless, we have mapped out strategies to tackle the increasing cases of vaccine-derived polio cases in some states in Nigeria.
“For instance, we don’t have Rotary Clubs in Kebbi, Sokoto and a few other states in northern Nigeria. Unfortunately, these are states where we are recording these vaccine-derived polio cases.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigerian National PolioPlus Committee (NNPPC), Hassan Josua, acknowledged that while Nigeria was declared free of wild poliovirus in August 2020, vaccine-derived strains have posed fresh challenges.
“Soon after the certification, we started seeing vaccine-derived viruses in some parts of the country. But we are responding aggressively. Once we detect a case, we organise an immediate corporate response within a 10-kilometre radius and sometimes expand beyond that.”
He disclosed that cases have declined significantly over time. “We have come down from 67 to 50, and now to much lower numbers. It is not easy, but we are working together to bring it down.”
Joshua highlighted the concentration of cases in some northern states, including Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Jigawa, stressing that cultural, religious and political dynamics must be carefully navigated. “You have to understand the politics, the way of life, the culture and religion of the area. If you miss that, you run into problems you cannot manage.”
He pointed to non-compliance in some communities, noting that misconceptions about vaccines remain a barrier. “Some believe there is a spiritual cause. Others hide children during immunisation. That is why all our staff must come from the local communities and speak the language. We must change the culture through engagement.”
Joshua added that advocacy, traditional institutions and data-driven surveillance remain central to the response strategy. “We are not lacking in what to do. But we must continue advocacy, strengthen community ownership and ensure no child is missed.”
Both leaders stressed that fatigue among volunteers must not translate into surrender.
“Volunteer fatigue is normal. But being tired is not giving up. We are 99.9 per cent done, and we must finish the fight.”
He urged Nigerians and the global community to see polio eradication as a shared responsibility. “Polio is only a flight away,” he warned. “If we do not eradicate it, our unborn children will be affected. Nigerians, non-Nigerians, Rotarians, non-Rotarians, we must join hands in our words and in our actions.”
