Rotary Club International is to immunise about 5,000 children in Ilorin Emirate against Polio as part of its activities to mark the World Polio eradication Day.
Chairman of Rotary Polio eradication committee for Kwara, Otunba Rick Oladele made this known on Wednesday when he led members of the committee on a visit to Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari in his palace.
He told the Emir that the committee was in the palace for the royal blessing of the Emir for the immunisation coming up on Saturday across the Emirate.
Oladele also told the Emir that the committee relied on the Emir to reach the chiefs in all the communities of Ilorin Emirate for people to bring their children for immunisation against Polio.
He said that only three countries in the world; Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan are yet to be free from Polio.
“Nigeria has clocked two and half years of polio free before a case of the virus was discovered in Gere local government of Borno State.
According to him, Polio reared its head back in North East because of the crisis there, adding that the virus still exist in volatile areas like Pakistan, Afghanistan and north east region of the country.
“Polio can be prevented through immunisation of children of five years old and below,” Oladele said.
He told the Emir that Rotary Club has been spending money since 1985 to produce vaccines to fight the virus among children.
“Cost of vaccinating a child is about three dollars which translates to about N1, 080. It is ambition to see that Polio is eradicated in Nigeria,” Oladele said.
He expressed his gratitude to the Emir for his support for Polio eradication.
In his response, Alhaji Sulu-Gambari commended Rotary Club for its resolve to end Polio in the country.
The Emir assured the committee of his readiness to assist in making the immunisation a huge success.
He promised to send messages to all chiefs and village heads in the four local governments of the Emirate to mobilise parents to present their children for immunisation on Saturday.
“God will reward you for what you are doing to eradicate polio in the country,” the Emir said.
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