WORLD POLIO DAY: ROTARY URGES PARENTS TO VACCINATE CHILDREN

Rotary International has urged parents to keep their children’s polio vaccinations up to date, warning that progress against the disease must not lead to complacency.

Marking World Polio Day on October 24, Rotary District 9111 Governor Bukola Olabisi Bakare called on families, community leaders and government authorities to help reach children who remain unprotected.

Bakare, whose district covers Lagos and Ogun states, said preventable paralysis remained a painful reality for affected families.

She noted that Nigeria’s certification as free of wild poliovirus in 2020 was an important achievement, but stressed that vaccination must continue because variant poliovirus still poses a threat.

Parents were encouraged to seek guidance from qualified health professionals and cooperate with vaccination teams rather than allow rumours to influence their decisions.

Bakare also called for greater attention to rural and underserved communities, where children may struggle to access routine immunisation.

She urged governments to sustain vaccination programmes and appealed to businesses and individuals to support eradication efforts.

Rotary’s awareness activities include a planned train ride from Lagos to Abeokuta on October 31, aimed at promoting vaccination and raising support for the campaign.