As part of activities to mark the 2024 world polio eradication and awareness day which is celebrated every 24th October worldwide, Rotary clubs domiciled in the Niger Delta, District 9141 came together to create awareness about the dangers of the polio disease by celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Rivers people through boat regatta, boat cruises, and cultural display at the Port Harcourt Boat Club.
The 3-Day program featured state-wide Immunization for toddlers on day 1, day 2 had joint fellowship at the boat club with cultural regattas,boat cruises etc, day 3 will have a fundraising dinner.
The Omuaru and Alali-Aru boat regatta signifiing the war against polio and the celebration of good progress in the war against Polio , is a festival celebrated by the Riverine people of Niger Delta, showcasing the aquatic culture of the communities.
The boat regatta is set when the water level is high during the rainy season to ensure the boats can floats with the high wave of the water.
The boats used for the regatta were decorated in bright beautiful colours depicting the Rotary’s “end polio now” campaign slogan, with it’s occupants also dressed in Rivers native attire.
Speaking with Rotarian Austine Bob-Manuel from the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt High-rise District 9141, he explained that the world polio day was established by the Rotary international in 2012 to raise awareness about Polio, recognize global efforts to eradicate polio and honour the contributions of health workers, donors, and partners and to commemorate the hard work of Jonas Salk who developed the Inactivated Polio Vaccine which was later improved upon by the introduction of the Oral Polio Vaccines. it is the vaccine that is used to combat the endemic polio disease ravaging the world.
In a quest to end polio, Rotarians come together every year to campaign, immunize, and create awareness towards ending polio, hence the celebration of their efforts.
He noted that Rotarians are advocating to the society to let them aware of the importance of immunization, adding that, yesterday the 24th of October all over Nigeria, Rotary clubs came out to the streets to immunize children, especially those in the suburbs without health care facilities. little children between the ages of zero to five years were immunized.
He further added that it is worthy of note that there is no cure to polio, an infected person without any symptom can spread the disease for up to six weeks.
However, Rotarians are preaching early treatment which will prevent the disease and are bent on ensuring that children within the vulnerable age of zero to five are immunized and that immunization will not stop.
He commended the efforts of the Rivers State government for joining the Rotary clubs in Port Harcourt in combating the polio virus stating that the state is free from wide polio spread as a result.
He noted that the polio virus is not completely eradicated in the world and if not treated there is tendency for resurgence that is why Rotarians are deliberate about it to ensure that people are aware and preventive measures taken.
