Health
World Polio Day: Rotary urges parents to vaccinate children
Janet Ogundepo
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 2026 World Polio Day, the District Governor of Rotary International District 9111, Rotarian Bukola Bakare, has urged parents to ensure their children receive polio vaccines, stressing that no child should suffer paralysis from a vaccine-preventable disease.
Bakare made the call in a statement on Saturday to commemorate the day, urging governments at all levels, community leaders and Nigerians to support efforts to protect every child against polio.
“It is heartbreaking that in this day and age, a child can still become paralysed because of polio. We have vaccines that can prevent this suffering, so why should any child have to go through it?” she said.
World Polio Day, observed annually on October 24, raises awareness of the importance of polio vaccination in protecting children against the disease and highlights global efforts to eradicate poliomyelitis.
The theme for this year’s commemoration is “A Chance for Reflection and a Reminder to Reach Every Last Child.”
Polio is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus.
According to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the best way for parents to protect their children against polio is to ensure they receive complete and timely immunisation with both the oral polio vaccine and the inactivated polio vaccine.
Bakare, a mother and grandmother, urged parents to vaccinate their children, stressing the need to protect them from irreversible paralysis.
She recalled that Nigeria was certified free of wild poliovirus in 2020 but warned against complacency, noting that outbreaks of variant poliovirus continued to pose a threat.
“We celebrated when Nigeria was declared free of wild poliovirus, and rightly so. It was the result of years of hard work by health workers, volunteers, government agencies, Rotary members and many other organisations.
“But we must understand that being certified free of wild poliovirus does not mean we should stop vaccinating our children. The danger has not completely disappeared,” she said.
Bakare said Rotary International began its polio eradication efforts in 1979 and launched its PolioPlus initiative in 1985, adding that members had contributed time and resources to vaccination campaigns, public education and fundraising for more than four decades.
The Rotarian commended the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the Gates Foundation, government health agencies and other partners for supporting vaccination programmes worldwide.
The Rotary governor also called for increased efforts to reach children in rural and underserved communities where access to healthcare and reliable information could be limited.
“A child living in a remote village deserves the same protection as a child living in Lagos, Abuja or any major city. We cannot afford to overlook these children simply because they are difficult to reach,” she said.
She urged parents and caregivers not to allow rumours and misinformation to discourage them from vaccinating their children, advising them to seek guidance from qualified health professionals and cooperate with vaccination teams.
“Make sure your children receive all the recommended doses. Do not allow fear or rumours to put their future at risk,” Bakare said.
Speaking on Rotary’s awareness activities, she highlighted the Polio Boat Regatta held on October 17, 2026, jointly organised by Rotary International Districts 9111 and 9112.
She also announced a Polio Awareness Train Ride from Lagos to Abeokuta scheduled for October 31, saying the activity would provide another opportunity to educate the public, raise funds and encourage support for polio eradication.
Bakare called on corporate organisations, philanthropists and members of the public to support Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign through donations, public education and efforts to encourage vaccination.
“You do not have to be a Rotarian to support the fight against polio. You can donate, help spread accurate information or encourage parents to vaccinate their children. Everybody has something to contribute. Even the smallest effort can make a difference,” she said.
She also urged governments at all levels to sustain support for immunisation programmes, particularly in communities where children were at greater risk of missing routine vaccinations.
Bakare commended health workers and volunteers who travel long distances and work under difficult conditions to ensure children receive vaccines.
She further called on media organisations to intensify public education on polio and childhood immunisation, noting that accurate reporting could help correct misconceptions and encourage parents to seek vaccination.
Expressing hope that polio would eventually be eradicated worldwide, Bakare urged Nigerians to sustain their efforts.
“On this World Polio Day, my appeal is simple: please vaccinate your children, encourage others to do the same, and support the efforts to end polio. We have come a long way, and we must finish the job,” she said.
Bakare reaffirmed Rotary International District 9111’s commitment to supporting polio eradication efforts and called on Nigerians to help make a polio-free world a reality.
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