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Tag: World Polio Day

  • World Polio Day: Para soccer thrill  spectators in Lagos

    World Polio Day: Para soccer thrill  spectators in Lagos

    Para soccer teams thrilled spectators at the Fashola Train Station ground in Agege, Lagos, during a one-day tournament held to commemorate this year’s World Polio Day. Despite physical challenges, the athletes showcased remarkable skill and determination, captivating the audience with their performance.

    Organised by the Polio Rescue Association, the event embraced the theme: “End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere.”

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the theme highlights the global commitment to eradicating polio by ensuring that every child, regardless of their location, receives the life-saving vaccine.

    The match featured impressive displays of football artistry, with Polio Rescue Team A clinching victory over Team B in a thrilling five-goal encounter.

    Watched by an enthusiastic crowd, the event served as a platform for advocacy—raising awareness about polio and promoting rehabilitation efforts for people living with disabilities.

    Players praised the Polio Rescue Association for organizing the tournament, emphasizing the need for increased support from government and corporate organizations for polio survivors and others affected by the disease.

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    Speaking at the event, Convener Olugbenga Kuye, called on the government to provide financial assistance to people with disabilities. Kuye, a former Chairman of the Lagos State Para Soccer Association, expressed delight at the teams’ performances and revealed plans to host regular tournaments across the five divisions of Lagos State to further engage the community.

    He commended the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund (LSSTF) for its continued support, urging the media to amplify awareness and encourage contributions from government bodies and well-meaning individuals.

    “We’re grateful to LSSTF for making this possible again. But we can do more. We want to expand these tournaments across all divisions and spread the joy we’ve seen here today,” Kuye said. “We are a reliable and trustworthy organization.”

    He added: “Our members need support not just in sports but in other areas of life. Many are unemployed and lack sustainable livelihoods. We don’t want them returning to the streets to beg. That’s why we’re bringing them together—so they can find purpose and dignity.”

    The Polio Rescue Association’s annual Para Soccer match in celebration of World Polio Day began in 2017 and continues to be a beacon of hope and advocacy for polio survivors.

  • Para soccer marks World Polio Day with tournament

    Para soccer marks World Polio Day with tournament

    The Para Soccer match commemorating World Polio Day provided a vibrant platform for players to showcase their skills. The Polio Rescue team faced off against the Lagos team in a thrilling encounter on Sunday, November 10, at Agege in Lagos.

    The Polio Rescue Association used this match to raise awareness about polio and advocate for the rehabilitation of people living with disabilities. The association continues its campaign to eliminate polio and support survivors.

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    While vaccinations remain the only solution to preventing infantile paralysis, the advocacy group emphasized the need for adequate government interventions to support those affected by the disease.

    In an impressive display of talent, the Polio Rescue team scored in each half, while Team Lagos managed to reduce the deficit in the latter stages of the game, much to the delight of the fans in attendance.

  • Uniting for the final push to end polio

    Uniting for the final push to end polio

    Sir: October 24 each year commemorates World Polio Day. This commemoration isn’t just an opportunity to reflect on the journey towards the eradication of the disease but also to remind all stakeholders of the seemingly unending battle to eliminate what has been described as a crippling and life-threatening illness.

    The European Region was declared polio-free in 2002 and has maintained this status every year since. While the African region was declared polio-free in 2020, the emergence of circulating Variant Poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) continues to be an important area of focus. This means other low- and medium-income countries, including Nigeria, continue to play catch-up.

    With over 70 cases reported across 46 local government areas (LGAs) in 14 states, Nigeria is currently witnessing intense transmission of cVPV2. This is largely due to issues surrounding vaccine hesitancy, which has led to low vaccination coverage. Similarly, misinformation and distrust about the potency and intentions of vaccination have significantly contributed to the low rate of herd immunity against the disease.

    Another major barrier that developing and underdeveloped nations face is political instability and ongoing conflicts. This severely restricts access to vaccination campaigns, making it difficult to reach underserved communities and leaving them vulnerable. The challenges posed by health supply chains, sometimes exacerbated by insecurity and logistics gaps, have also consistently impacted the availability of polio vaccines for effective distribution, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

    Given the potential devastating effects of polio—such as paralysis and psychosocial impact—along with the speed at which this disease can spread, the urgency needed to end this scourge remains critical. While the progress made is impressive, nearly eradicating polio is not good enough. Locations with incomplete vaccination coverage may experience outbreaks that can rapidly escalate into fresh public health emergencies.

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    The coordination of efforts by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) over the years has been critical to the global effort to eradicate polio, involving significant investments of financial and human resources. This further underscores the importance of strengthening existing collaborations at all levels to accelerate the end of polio in the African region.

    For instance, eHealth Africa is working with key partners, such as the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development, to engage traditional and religious institutions in leading the polio vaccination drive. The intervention led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has built trust within communities across northern Nigeria to increase vaccine uptake. To a significant extent, religious leaders, traditional leaders, and village heads have been flagging off vaccination campaigns from their palaces and chambers, which has undoubtedly improved acceptance of vaccines, especially in rural communities.

    The urgency of reaching rural communities has also prompted the deployment of digital innovations like Geospatial Tracking Systems (GTS) to track and identify missed settlements. These systems have helped increase vaccination coverage while providing data-driven insights for decision-making. This has improved the quality and accountability of campaign implementation by validating the reports generated by vaccination teams.

    Similarly, digital innovations like Planfeld, recently piloted by eHealth Africa, have been instrumental in enhancing the accuracy of planning vaccination campaigns and reaching every settlement. The application provides information on the exact number of settlements being targeted, the number of children in those areas, and the amount of vaccine required for the activity.

    Aside from the deployment of technology, social behavioural change interventions at all levels have been another key approach in the journey to end polio. Irrespective of their roles, every step taken toward alleviating this disease is crucial. From international public health leaders to caregivers in the most remote locations, the influence of every stakeholder remains vital to the final push to end polio in Nigeria and the African continent.

    Importantly, the emergence of other potential public health crises—such as cholera, monkey pox, hypertension, and diabetes—increases the urgency of ending the long-standing battle against polio. This will ensure that more global health funding is directed toward addressing other health issues, averting potential public health emergencies.

    As we unite to push for a future without polio, this will be a testament to our collective resolve and humanity’s ability to unite for a common cause. We are indeed on the brink of history as we deliver the final blow to this disease once and for all.

    •Moshood Isah,eHealth Africa, Abuja.