Francesco Arezzo, the President of Rotary International, stressed the crucial importance of immunization in the ongoing fight against polio during a recent event. He indicated that the organization aims to achieve an immunization coverage of 90-97 percent among children to effectively eradicate the polio virus and avert vaccine-derived cases in Nigeria.
Arezzo expressed that the ultimate objective is to reach a zero dose of oral polio vaccine, calling it a key ambition. He pointed out that polio remains endemic in only two nations, Afghanistan and Pakistan, but commended Nigeria's efforts to eliminate the disease from Africa.
At a press conference in Abuja, as part of a week-long visit to Nigeria, he highlighted Nigeria’s progress toward being polio-free since it was officially declared as such in 2020. However, he acknowledged the persistence of vaccine- derived strains in certain areas.
He praised Nigeria's determination in contributing to a polio-free Africa and shared his insights on the path to eradicating the disease. Arezzo stated that there are critical measures needed to realize this goal, specifically the continued use of a newer, more stable vaccine and maintaining high immunization rates.
“Eradication of Polio is feasible, though challenging. It is straightforward; we must keep using the new vaccine which effectively reduces vaccine-derived cases,” he explained.
He noted that polio outbreaks can only develop where community immunity is insufficient, asserting that high immunization coverage is instrumental to preventing the virus from spreading. Arezzo reaffirmed Rotary’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s immunization initiatives, reiterating that this campaign is a collective responsibility that involves everyone, not just Rotary.
He cited a disheartening statistic regarding the human cost of the vaccination effort, revealing that 76 health workers have lost their lives in Nigeria since 2012, with an even higher toll of 382 in Pakistan, urging the community to honor their sacrifices by completing the vaccination mission.
Arezzo, alongside his wife, Anna Maria, took part in the administration of polio drops to children at Area 2 in Garki, Abuja, emphasizing the emotional significance of this act in protecting children from the disease.
He concluded by stating the long-term aspiration to eliminate all zero-dose children from the immunization agenda, reinforcing that every child's health should be safeguarded against polio. “Our dream, our goal is to ensure that no child is missed in the vaccination process,” he reiterated.
In response to the challenges faced, the Chairman of the Nigerian National Polio Plus Committee, Joshua Hassan, raised concerns over recent vaccine- derived polio cases in Kebbi State and the related security issues impacting volunteer efforts.
He addressed misconceptions regarding Rotarian commitment, attributing a decline in engagement to volunteer fatigue rather than lack of willingness, and emphasized the need to enhance Rotary’s outreach into underserved areas, especially in the North-East.
Hassan reinforced that eliminating polio remains Rotary International’s top priority, stating, “We are 99.9 percent done, and we must finish the job.” Joy Okoro, the District Governor, noted that the visit aimed to evaluate Nigeria’s global grant utilization and reaffirm the organization's dedication to eradicating polio while increasing advocacy in regions experiencing outbreaks.
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