Polio: NGF Spearheads Campaign To End Vaccination Apathy

Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum(NGF), Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi  of Rivers State says the body would intensify campaign against traditional inhibitions that make polio eradication difficult in the country.

The Governor while hosting the President of Rotary International, Kalyan Benerjee in Government House yesterday in Port Harcourt blamed native beliefs  for difficulties being faced in eradicating the deadly viral disease, especially in the northern part of the country.

Rt. Hon. Amaechi declared that the NGF has decided to spearhead the onslaught against polio because of  the menace posed by the disease and said that they were partnering with Rotary International due to the outreach and the goodwill it enjoys from various sectors of the country.

The Governor stressed the need for the organisation to spread its outreach to the northern part of the country where its presence is hardly felt saying,” I hope we should be creating the opportunity for members in those states to set up their Rotary branches, so that they can set up outreach programme in terms of awareness and support government in terms of vaccination”.

He thanked the international charity organisation for the support it has lent in the Southern part of the country and hoped that the same zeal would be spread to the north.

In his remarks, Mr Benerjee informed the governor that he and his team was in the country to evaluate activities of the group towards checking polio.

He stated that over the years, Rotary has taken up the challenge to tackle polio spread across the globe and that presently Nigerian was among the four countries where the disease was still prevalent.

Benerjee hinted that in the last six to eight months, no polio case has been reported in India, while noting that Nigeria is also in the track of achieving same.

He further said, “ from what I have seen, I think Nigeria is well on track to eradicate polio and I am confident that India and Nigeria will be able to eradicate polio at the same time.”

The Rotary International President also expressed confidence that the southern region of the country would be polio-free following intensive campaigns over the years.

He congratulated the NGF over the efforts it has put into ensuring that the disease is tackled, urging it not to relent in such luadable quest.