Rotary International has announced $ 8.4 million (over N1.4 Billion) grants to combat polio in Nigeria.
The funds, according to a statement released ahead of this year’s World Polio Day which was observed on Friday, is part of Rotary’s larger contribution of $44.7 million to end the disease worldwide.
Details of the funds, as given in the statement, shows that it will be used by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to support high quality polio immunisation campaigns in Nigeria.
The funding commitment comes as Nigeria celebrates a 90 per cent reduction in polio cases compared to this time last year, with only six cases recorded to date in 2014.
As recently as 2012, Nigeria reported the highest number of polio cases in the world.
Along with Pakistan and Afghanistan – Nigeria is one of only three countries where the wild poliovirus has never been stopped, but this new Rotary support may see the eradication of the disease in the country.
Rotary’s National PolioPlus Chairman for Nigeria, Tunji Funsho, who is full of praises for the strides achieved by Nigeria towards polio eradication, said, “Our country should be incredibly proud of the progress we have made towards ending polio in our borders.”
He, however, stated that even six cases are too many, adding, “We cannot and we will not stop fighting this disease until every child in Nigeria, and the world, is safe from this crippling disease.” [myad]
