2026 World Polio Day: Rotary Clubs in Kaduna Intensify Awareness, Take Campaign to Badarawa PHC …As Rotaract Member Cycles Across States to Promote Polio Eradication

By
ZAINAB TANIMU
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2026 World Polio Day: Rotary Clubs in Kaduna Intensify Awareness, Take Campaign to Badarawa PHC

…As Rotaract Member Cycles Across States to Promote Polio Eradication

 

By Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria
As the world prepares to commemorate World Polio Day on October 24, Rotary Clubs in Kaduna have intensified efforts to sustain public awareness and promote childhood immunisation, taking their campaign to the grassroots with a sensitisation programme at Badarawa Primary Health Centre (PHC).
The initiative underscores Rotary’s determination to sustain the fight against polio and ensure that every child is protected through vaccination, despite the progress recorded in Nigeria’s efforts to eliminate the disease.
The awareness programme brought together Rotarians, health workers, community representatives, women and youth leaders to discuss the importance of immunisation, address misconceptions surrounding polio vaccines and encourage greater community participation in the eradication campaign.
Speaking at the event, President of the Presidents Rotary Club, Rotarian Ramatu Ibrahim, commended members for their commitment to the fight against polio, urging them to intensify advocacy efforts until the disease is completely eradicated.
She described the campaign as a collective responsibility that requires sustained commitment, community engagement and collaboration among stakeholders.
According to her, Rotary’s mission goes beyond raising awareness, as members must also support immunisation programmes, mobilise resources and work closely with families, traditional leaders, health workers and other partners to ensure that no child is left unprotected.
Nigeria was certified free of indigenous wild poliovirus in 2020, but that does not mean every form of poliovirus has been eliminated.
As such the need to bring it to zero level. She added.
She stressed that every child deserves the opportunity to grow, play and pursue their dreams without the threat of polio, noting that the responsibility of Rotary members would remain until all children are protected.
Rotarian Ramatu expressed appreciation to club presidents, polio representatives, committee members and other Rotarians whose efforts contributed to the success of the programme.
She also acknowledged the dedication of health workers and community partners, calling on participants to translate the fellowship into practical action that would produce lasting results.
“Together, let us turn our fellowship into action and our commitment into lasting impact. Together, we can help end polio,” she said.
At the sensitisation session held at Badarawa PHC, women were educated on the importance of presenting their babies for routine immunisation and protecting them against preventable diseases.
The State Polio Representative, Rotarian Aisha Yahaya Gusau, expressed satisfaction with the turnout, describing the participation of women and community representatives as encouraging.
She explained that although Nigeria had made significant progress in the fight against polio, sustained awareness remained necessary because the disease had not been completely eliminated worldwide.
“Though polio has almost been eradicated completely in Nigeria, there are still a few places where cases occur. That is why awareness is very important,” she said.
Rotarian Aisha commended the women for their participation and noted that the presence of representatives of the traditional institution and youth leadership would help extend the campaign’s message to more households.
She appreciated the representative of the Hakimi of Badarawa, Alhaji Aliyu, the community’s youth leader and the matron in charge of the health facility for their hospitality and support in mobilising residents for the programme.
She urged them to sustain their cooperation with Rotary and other health stakeholders to ensure that the campaign reaches more families.
Explaining the purpose of the gathering, the Zonal Coordinator of Rotary International District 9127, Nigeria, Kayode Michael Olonofemi, said the programme was part of activities leading up to the global commemoration of World Polio Day on October 24.
He explained that the gathering provided an opportunity for Rotarians and Rotaractors to interact, strengthen their fellowship and draw attention to the need for continued efforts towards polio eradication.
Olonofemi noted that Rotary’s campaign was a global undertaking, stressing that every community had a role to play in ensuring that children received the vaccines they needed.
He reiterated that no child should be left without immunisation, describing vaccination as a critical component of the collective effort to eliminate polio.
The presentations were anchored by Rotarian Victoria Adejoh and Rotarian Professor Evelyn Hauwa Yusuf, who explained the importance of community sensitisation and addressed issues affecting compliance with childhood immunisation.
They identified misconceptions about polio vaccines as one of the challenges slowing progress in parts of Northern Nigeria, urging women to help spread accurate information among other mothers who were unable to attend the programme.
The interactive question-and-answer session provided an opportunity for participants to discuss their concerns and demonstrate their understanding of polio and other health-related issues.
Discussions revealed that resistance to vaccination was not always driven by misconceptions alone. Some women explained that opposition from their husbands sometimes prevented them from taking their babies for immunisation.
The issue generated considerable discussion, with participants sharing experiences of the difficulties they faced in securing family support for vaccination.
The presenters acknowledged these concerns, emphasising the need for inclusive awareness programmes that involve men alongside women.
They explained that engaging husbands, traditional leaders and other influential members of the community could help address resistance and encourage greater acceptance of immunisation.
The participation of community representatives and men at the event was therefore considered important in extending the message beyond the women who attended.
Beyond polio awareness, Professor Evelyn Hauwa Yusuf also raised concerns about child abuse, particularly the alleged mistreatment of domestic workers and house helps.
She urged women to exercise restraint and treat children under their care with compassion, regardless of whether they were their biological children or domestic helpers.
Citing a recent incident in which a girl was reportedly burnt with a hot pressing iron by her employer, she condemned such acts of cruelty and reminded participants that abusive conduct could attract legal consequences.
She called for greater self-control, stressing that anger should never be an excuse for inflicting suffering on children.
The representative of the Hakimi of Badarawa, Alhaji Aliyu, commended Rotary for its sustained humanitarian efforts and contribution to promoting healthy living.
He pledged to support the campaign by helping to spread the message across more households, while appreciating community members, particularly women, for their cooperation in the fight against polio.
The community’s youth leader also praised Rotary for the initiative and promised to assist in extending the awareness campaign to more residents.
Both community representatives were equally commended for their support in maintaining a clean environment at the health facility.
The programme ended on an encouraging note, with participants expressing a better understanding of polio prevention and the importance of immunisation.
However, one of the most inspiring highlights was the story of Rotaract member Steven Christian Mamma, based in Kano, who has taken the polio eradication message beyond conventional advocacy by travelling from one state to another on his bicycle.
Introduced at the event by the State Polio Representative, Rotarian Aisha Yahaya Gusau, Steven explained that his initiative was driven by a desire to reach communities at the grassroots and encourage parents to protect their children through vaccination.
He disclosed that his first journey, which began on August 3, took him from Kano to Jalingo, a distance of approximately 853 kilometres.
According to him, he received a warm welcome from community leaders, including the Akimi of Wudul, as well as residents who offered assistance during the journey.

Steven said that while people employ different methods to spread awareness, he chose cycling as a means of reaching communities and sharing information about the dangers of failing to immunise children against polio.
He also disclosed to Newsreservoir that during his visit to Jalingo, six wheelchairs were distributed to people affected by polio.
His journey subsequently brought him to Kaduna, where he continued his advocacy despite the challenges encountered along the way.
Members of Rotary Clubs in Kaduna warmly received him and commended his determination to use personal initiative to promote a cause that protects children’s health and advances humanitarian service.
The Rotarians offered him financial assistance to support his onward journey to Abuja, helping to ease the burden of his continued advocacy.
When asked by Newsreservoir how he had managed to undertake such long journeys on a bicycle, Steven simply responded: “I am a cyclist.”
His response captured the spirit of determination behind his initiative and the lengths to which individuals can go to promote a cause they believe in.
He expressed appreciation to Rotary members for their humanitarian services and encouraged others to dedicate themselves to serving humanity.
The awareness campaign also featured a walk through parts of Kaduna metropolis, beginning from the UTC axis and ending at Magajin Gari, as participants took their message of polio eradication to the public.
As World Polio Day approaches, the activities serve as a reminder that sustaining progress against polio requires more than commemorative events. It demands continued immunisation, accurate information, community cooperation and the collective resolve to ensure that every child is protected.
For Rotary members in Kaduna, the message remains clear: the fight against polio must continue until no child is left vulnerable to the disease.
And for Steven Christian Mamma, every kilometre travelled represents another opportunity to reach a community, educate a family and bring the world closer to a polio-free future.
Newsreservoir wishes him a safe journey, God’s protection and success in his mission to serve humanity. Ameena.
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