The President of Rotary International, Francesco Arezzo, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to achieving global polio eradication, stressing that maintaining very high immunisation coverage is critical to preventing outbreaks of vaccine-derived poliovirus.
Speaking in Abuja during a press briefing at the end of a seven-day visit to Nigeria, Arezzo stated that immunisation coverage of 90-97 per cent among children under five is essential to interrupt transmission. He described the goal of reaching every child with the oral polio vaccine—achieving “zero dose” coverage—as fundamental to the campaign.
While Nigeria was certified polio-free in 2020, Arezzo acknowledged that strains of vaccine-derived poliovirus have persisted in recent years, notably with two recent cases reported in Kebbi State. He attributed these incidents to pockets of low population immunity and highlighted two key strategies for elimination: the use of a new, more genetically stable oral polio vaccine that significantly reduces the risk of mutation, and the sustained achievement of high national immunisation rates.
Arezzo’s visit included a vaccination session in Abuja’s Garki area, where he and his spouse administered drops to children. He emphasised that eradication is a collective responsibility. “This is not the problem of Rotary alone; it is the problem of humanity,” he said, urging the Nigerian government, partners, and citizens to maintain cooperation.
The Rotary president honoured the sacrifice of health workers, noting that 76 vaccination team members have been killed in Nigeria since 2012, with hundreds more lost in Pakistan. “The best way to honour them is to finish this campaign,” he stated.
Local Rotary leaders echoed the call for vigilance. Joshua Hassan, Chairman of the Nigerian National Polio Plus Committee, described the emergence of vaccine-derived cases and security challenges as major concerns but dismissed notions of waning Rotarian commitment, attributing any slowdown to “volunteer fatigue” and the difficulty of operating in rural areas. Princess Joy Okoro, 9127 District Governor, said the visit aimed to assess grant utilisation and reaffirm support, with advocacy to be strengthened in states with emerging cases.
Arezzo placed the effort in historical context, praising Africa’s achievement of certification in 2020 and India’s success, once deemed impossible. He noted that only Afghanistan and Pakistan remain endemic for wild poliovirus. With the global initiative 99.9 per cent complete, he concluded that the final push demands unwavering focus on high immunisation coverage to protect all children.
