Rotary Club immunizes 1,000 children against polio

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Over 1,000 children were on Monday vaccinated and immunized against Polio virus in Oyo town, Oyo State.
The programme was facilitated by the Rotary Club of Oyo to commemorate the annual World Polio day.
The social organisation embarked on a sensitisation rally and house-to-house vaccination of children yet to be immunized against the disease.
The event amid funfare which took off from Durbar Health Centre moved to Araromi Health Centre, Owode, Akeetan Baale, Idi-Ope, Alalubosa, Asogo, Akesan, and ended up at Afin Maternity Centre.
Most parents did not hide their ignorance of the disease, as they hid their children who were between ages one and five from being
vaccinated, apparently due to indoctrination.
After painstaking sensitization at every household visited about 10
minutes, parents eventually opened their doors and brought out their
children for immunization.
Two of the parents said they didn’t want their children to be immunised because of the misconception coming from some elders in their area.
“They (family elders) told us that if our children are vaccinated, it will lead to big sores that could not be cured and can lead to
premature deaths. We were also told that if any syrup is dropped into children’s mouth, the bitter taste of the syrup will kill our children”.
They were, however, full of praises to the Rotary Club for the
opportunity of enlightening and saving their children from premature deaths.
Their joy knew no bounds, as they took to dances with members of the
club to show their appreciation.
In his comment, President of the club, Olajide Olanipekun, a lawyer, said “ the detection of children paralysed by polio shows that surveillance has increased with more access, but it is a reminder that the country needs to remain vigilant and immunise all eligible children with polio vaccine until polio is completely eradicated worldwide. That is what we are doing, as one of the major concerns of the Rotary Club”.
Also, Chairman of the Polio Committee, Dr. Kadejo Ayorinde, explained that “Our overriding priority right now is to rapidly boost immunity in the affected areas to ensure that no more children are affected by this terrible disease”
Olanipekun recalled that “in 2012, Nigeria accounted for more than half of all polio cases worldwide, but the country has made significant strides in recent years, going two years without a single case.
“This progress has been as a result of concerted efforts by all
level of government, Rotary Club, traditional and religious leaders as well as dedicated health workers” .
Ayorinde called on states and local governments to redouble their efforts by safeguarding their territories from importation of the virus, by providing the required leadership and ensuring accountability among healthcare workers and other stakeholders.
Following the worrisome confirmation of two cases of Polio Virus in Borno State, UNICEF has said the two new cases of polio in Nigeria underline the prevailing risks children encountered in conflict zones.
UNICEF Polio Eradication Director Reza Hossaini said news about the two cases was devastating to the whole efforts to completely eradicate polio from Nigeria.
He said the sobering news that two children were paralysed by wild polio virus in North-eastern Nigeria underscores the urgency of eradicating the disease in conflict-affected areas.
The Government of Nigeria and the World Health Organisation also confirmed an outbreak of wild polio virus in conflict-ridden Borno State, where children are already facing dangerously high levels of malnutrition.
According to Hossaini, “the two cases were discovered in parts of Borno that have recently become accessible, but large areas of the state remain unreachable.
Nigeria – and the continent – had its last confirmed polio case two years ago and was within a year of being certified polio-free, thanks to a massive mobilisation by the government, partners and local health providers.
“We cannot deny the connection between conflict and the continued threat of polio. The two new cases mean children across the Lake Chad region are now at particular risk. With our partners, we will not stop
until we reach every child with polio vaccination,”he said.
To the effect, the Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria, supported
by the WHO, UNICEF, and partners of the Global Polio Eradication
Initiative, are rolling out an emergency immunisation campaign,
starting in the accessible parts of Borno state.
The discovery and confirmation of the outbreak was as a result of
strengthened surveillance due to improved accessibility which has been
made possible by the recent military action in liberating more
communities in the North-eastern part of the country.

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