The awareness walk round the city of Abeokuta was led by the District Governor, Rtn. Ifeyinwa Ejezie; in company of District Governor-Elect, Rtn. Wole Kukoyi; District Governor Elect, District 9112, Rtn. Femi Adenekan, Hope President, Rotary Club of Abeokuta, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, Commissioners for Health; Sports and Housing in Ogun State, Tomi Coker, Wasiu Isiaka and Jagunmolu Omoniyi.
Ejezie, who engaged road users and residents, explained the need for the immunization of all children right from birth till age of five in order to further keep polio at zero not only in Nigeria but worldwide.
Explaining that the awareness was in commemoration of annual World Polio Day, she added that the club in its efforts at complementing government efforts at the grassroot would keep expending its resources in a bid to eradicating the preventable disease, especially in the grassroot level.
In her remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, while acknowledging the complimentary roles of the Rotary Club through their various outreach programmes over the years, noted that though Nigeria has been certified polio-free but was essential to eliminate the deadly disease worldwide.
Coker assured that the State under the leadership of the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun remain committed to providing quality healthcare service delivery, including providing free polio vaccines to children from age 0 to 5 years old at the various Primary Health Care (PHC) centres across the State.
Corroborating Coker's view, the Hope President, Rotary Club of Abeokuta and Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Rotn. Adijat Adeleye, submitted that, "the news of our country's three-year polio-free milestone echoes the dedication of our health workers, the support of our government, and the relentless efforts of organizations like Rotary.
"Today, as we organize the polio walk for the Ogun State Axis, we will continue to recommit ourselves to the cause. Our role as Rotarians is pivotal. We will continue our strong advocacy, intensify awareness campaigns, and ensure the necessary funds are raised", she concluded.
