The Rotary International Worldwide President, Rotarian Barry Rassin, has extolled Nigeria’s efforts to be polio free. The President and his wife, Esther, were received in Nigeria with pomp by many Rotarians at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
With two years and three months without any fresh incident of polio, and only few weeks left, Nigeria is on the verge of being declared a polio-free country by the World Health Organisation (WHO), leaving Pakistan and Afghanistan as the only countries left battling with the disease.
This was the comforting rousing message from Rassin who was hosted to a reception yesterday at the Rotary Centre, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. “The significance of my visit is to appreciate the efforts of Rotarians in Nigeria who have been struggling hard to see that polio is completely eradicated in the country as one of the three countries left with polio in the world.
“I must commend our district and local chapters for their efforts and financial contributions to see that Nigeria is certified wild polio free within the next few months. I can assure you that Rotary International is committed to that,” he said.
Addressing fellow Rotary members, Rassin advised them to imbibe the four core values of the organisation, which focused on service and integrity.
He added: “Nigeria has made significant progress with regards the fight against polio. Nigeria has been in the full in the fight against polio. Nigeria has gone for two years and three months without polio and by the end of the third year, Nigeria will be certified polio free’, said Rassin.
During his visit, he will be hosted by the four Rotary districts in the country while also having an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari to commend efforts of the Federal Government in the fight against polio.
Rotary International Director, Rotn. Yinka Babalola, said of the 16 districts in Africa, Nigeria has four, representing 25 per cent and of the 32,000 Rotarians in Africa, Nigeria accounts for about 11,000, representing 43 per cent.
Rassin had earlier commissioned Indo Eye Care Foundation at the Indo Eye Care Hospital, on Airport Road, Lagos where he was hosted by the Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove Estate and Indian community.
The governor, District 9110, Rotn. Kola Sodipo, said the activities of the district has been geared towards the theme of the Rotary year.
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