April 21, 2018

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Saturday expressed delight on efforts by Rotary Clubs in Nigeria  in implementing Rotary International strategic plans to eradicate Polio and other child killer diseases.

Dr Fiona Braka, the WHO Nigeria Team Leader for Expanded Programme on Immunisation said this during a three kilometer walk to kick-off African Vaccination Week Community Mobilization Drive in Abuja.

The theme of the event is titled: “Vaccines Works; Be an Immunization Champion’’.

Braka said the progress made in the suppression of polio and other avoidable child killer diseases rested heavily on the commitment of rotary members who participate in immunization exercises and awareness campaigns in communities.

She said the Africa Vaccination Week had provided WHO the opportunity to galvanise support for the enlightenment and sensitization of all communities in the country on the danger of excluding children from routine vaccination.

“”Let all be champions of vaccination. It feels good to see a great turnout for this Walk which kick-starts the Africa Vaccination Week.

“”WHO is indeed happy with the commitment of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and five rotary clubs under District 9125 that have made this a reality’’ Braka said.

Dr Joseph Oteri, National Chairman Measles Technical Coordination Committee (NMTCC) said all hand must be on deck to use innovations to reach all eligible children to achieve high quality vaccination against measles.

Oteri said the stakeholders should leverage on the Africa Vaccination Week to ignite awareness level of parents and guardians to secure the lives of their children and wards respectively.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the “Walk’’ was later followed by vaccination exercises and enlightenment campaigns across the Federal Capital City (FCT) by Rotarians and staff of NPHCDA.

The rotary clubs that participated in the events were Rotary Club of Abuja Metro, Jabi Lake side, Central Business District (CBD), Diamond as well as rotary club of NPHCDA.

In a related development, the Rotary Club of Abuja, CBD had used the event to plant 25 commercial tree seedlings in its adopted village, Gidan Gimba, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.

The President of the club, Ms Salome Garba said the gesture was part of the club’s strategic plans to make the village habitable.

Mr Danjuma Audi, Traditional Head of the village, said the trees would be nurtured to maturity, adding that the rotary club had given the village a total package on healthy living.