Rotary Club has vaccinated over 2.5 billion children against polio worldwide since the campaign started in 1985.

The feat was achieved in a joint effort with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The past President, Rotary Club of Ilorin Metro and Kwara State Polio Representative 2023-2024, Youssef Sanders, disclosed this, yesterday, while fielding questions from journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, during the commemoration of the World Polio Day.

“With the feat that many described as awesome, the battle to eliminate polio is not yet won.

“Polio still poses a threat because it is an infectious disease and there is much work to be done. It is crucial for the general populace to support organisations like Rotary International in the efforts to reach every child with the polio vaccine,” he said.

Youssef, who said that polio used to be a devastating scourge, confirmed that the disease had been on the brink of eradication globally for several years.

The former Rotary president, who said that the Rotary Club had played a pivotal role in bringing people closer to a polio-free world in Kwara State, commended the federal and state governments for giving right leadership in that regard.

Also speaking, the past President, Rotary Club of Ilorin GRA, Dr. Olutoye Michael, said Kwara State is free of polio, adding that the campaign against the disease has to continue.

“The world is a global village and somebody can get infected in Mozambique and a few hours later, he finds himself in another country like Nigeria. It can spread so easily. That is why we keep up awareness campaigns and vaccination,” he said.