Amaechi Seeks Fresh Polio Immunisation Nationwide …As Rotary Immunises 2billion Children

Comptroller, Nigerian Immigration Services, Apapa Port, Mrs Taiwo Olayemi, Commissioner, Lagos Ports Authority Police Command, Mr Kayode Aderanti (right) and other officials during a visit by the Police Commissioner to the immigration office, Apapa Port last Wednesday.

Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi has called for intensified anti-Polio drive in the Northern part of the country.
He said current statistics reveal that the North is still beset with the disease which often attack children at infancy, noting that there are not much cases in the South because of the heightened awareness.
Governor Amaechi while speaking when the Rotary Foundation Trustee Chairman and past Rotary International President, Rotarian Domg Kurn Lee led other Rotarians to pay him a courtesy call at Government House yesterday, in Port Harcourt, declared zero tolerance for Polio in the state.
With the current success recorded in Polio reduction nationwide has bouyed Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi to call for a fresh Polio immunization campaign across the country.
Already, in Rivers State, the governor has directed the state Ministry of Health to ensure that children are vaccinated in the state to eradicate Polio.
The state chief executive, who noted that the Nigeria Governor’s Forum(NGF) considers immunization as an essential in the eradication of Polio, thanked Rotary International for been part of the fight to end Polio in the country, and enjoined them to intensify their campaign more in the Northern part of the country where the cases of polio is very high.
“The last time you came here, I stressed there is need to establish more Rotary Clubs in the North becuase the fight against Polio should be in the North than in the South. We have had one or two occasions where we have had cases of suspected polio in the South; that was only in Edo”.
He said that Polio cases are more in the North than in the South, especially Yobe and recently Taraba.
He added that,” the petition therefore is to start a fresh Polio immunization campaign again” since immunization is the only answer to the menace.”
The governor warned of the conswquences of contacts from outside the country, stressing that in Rivers State, “ for every child that is born needs to be immunised from Polio’’.
He commended Rotary for the humanitarian work they are doing to fight the menace, while enjoining them to sustain the good works.
Earlier, the Rotary Foundation Trustee Chairman and past Rotary International President, Rotarian Domg Kurn Lee noted that Rotary’s number one priority project is Polio eradication, and thanked Governor Chibuike Amaechi, his wife and the government of Rivers State for the numerous support to Rotary Foundation to eradicate Polio.
Rotarian Domg Kurn Lee, who pointed out that Nigeria is still Polio endemic country, expressed the hope that Rotary will end Polio in Nigeria as well as from the list of Polio free countries.
Meanwhile, not less than 2 billion children have been immunized Worldwide against the polio virus by the rotary Club International.
The Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair and Past Rotary International President, Dong Kuru Lee, who disclosed this in Port Harcourt, also said that the end of Polio is in sight in Nigeria.
Dong Kurn Lee said that the club is working hard to certify Nigeria as a Polio-free nation, stressing that the club takes the issue of Polio seriously.
He commended members of the Rotary Club District 9140 for their level of hospitality, and urged all to join hands with the club to eradicate Polio in the country.
The Rotary International Foundation Trustee Chair also administered Polio vaccines to some children at the Igwuruta Health Centre as well as unveiled of “End Polio Now, Billboard of Sir Emeka Offor at Igwuruta/Airport roundabout.
In his address, the District Governor District 9140, Rotarian Charles Onianwa said that Polio eradication has been Rotary International’s first priority goal and project for many years.
Rotarian Onianwa said that the club has done very well as far as immunization against polio is concerned.
“We have gone so far. We have immunized over 2 billion children and endemic polio is gone,” he said.
The District Governor also said that the District 9140 is faced with the problem of provision of good water, stressing that the District’s inability to access District grant fund was hampering the provision of water to its catchment areas.
He called for a review of the embargo placed on the District to enable it access funds.
Also speaking, the Rotary Polio Ambassador to Nigeria, Sir Emeka Offor, said that the efforts of the club has led to gradual reduction of Polio cases in the country.
Offor, however, said that a lot needs to be done to make Nigeria Polio free.
It would be recalled that Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the three countries left to be certified polio-free.

John Bibor