The president of Rotary International, Gordon R. McInally, yesterday asked Nigerians to be vigilant to ensure that polio does not find its way back into the country.
He said that in the not-too-distant future, the entire world would be certified polio- free.
He said although 30 years ago, about 350,000 cases of polio were globally recorded every year, in 2023, it reduced to 12 cases.
He said Rotary International had launched another $3million Programme of Scale for Safe Childbirth in Nigeria for the benefit of women.
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McInally gave the warning while speaking with journalists at the State House, Abuja, after leading other members of the global organisation to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Nigeria was declared wild polio-free in June, 2019 by the World Health Organisation (WHO), African Region.
McInally said he was at the State House to thank President Tinubu for all the support the Rotary International had received from the Nigerian government.
He said, “One of the principal reasons for coming to see your president is to thank him for everything that Nigeria has done in the field of polio eradication.
“We are very excited that worldwide, we are about to complete the polio eradication campaign, and of course, polio was certified free from Nigeria five years ago in 2019.
“But we have to remain vigilant. We cannot afford to let our guard down. We have to make sure that we continue the work to ensure that polio does not come back to places like Nigeria and other parts of the world.
President Bola Tinubu while speaking during the visit said the federal government will continue to partner reputable organisations such as Rotary International as part of his administration’s efforts to eradicate all forms of polio and reduce the prevalence of maternal and infant mortality in the country.
Tinubu also commended Rotary for the new grant of $14 million to enable the World Health Organization (WHO) provide technical assistance to the government of Nigeria on polio surveillance.
He declared that it is a national obligation for the government to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians, support their advancement, and ensure they are not hindered by any form of disease.
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