Rotary International has expressed concern about misinformation, religion, and insecurity in its global fight against polio.

General-Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rotary International, John Hewko, expressed his concern in Benin yesterday during a media parley in preparation for the District 9141 three-day conference.

Hewko, who disclosed that Rotary has, since its inception, committed over $3 billion fighting polio globally, said the world over, through vaccination facilitated by Rotary and its partners, polio “has been eradicated except in Pakistan and Afghanistan and some of the other places where you have some of these challenges.”

The CEO, who emphasised that Rotary is committed to being in the fight until polio is eradicated, added: “That is why you, the media, are so important to also work with us to get the message out that the vaccine is safe, it’s effective.

“We need to vaccinate everybody around the world until there are no more cases.”

Well, how do you vaccinate a child against polio? You give them two drops of vaccine, which means you have to get to the child. You can’t do it by Zoom. You can’t do it through the air. You have to be physically there and give two drops. But this issue of misinformation is a big problem.”

The CEO, who lamented that in countries where such challenges are prevalent, under-vaccination is prevalent, disclosed that “but we use all kinds of techniques. We will, for example, at border crossings, vaccinate children as they come across.”

Earlier, the Rotary Governor of District 9141, comprising Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states, Rotarian Anthony Woghiren, said apart from vaccination, the humanitarian organisation has empowered the less privileged in skill acquisition.