UNICEF, Rotary collaborate to sustain polio-free Nigeria

By Nasir Shu'aibu 

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Rotary International have reaffirmed their joint commitment to sustaining Nigeria’s polio-free status through renewed collaboration with government and community stakeholders.

Speaking at an event in Bauchi to mark World Polio Day on Friday, UNICEF Global Special Behavioral Change Manager and Head of World Polio Outbreak Response, Dr. Panchanan Achari, said the organization remains focused on ensuring that every child, regardless of location, has access to life-saving vaccines.

This year’s theme, “End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere,” he said, reflects the global call to action to protect all children from preventable diseases.

Dr. Achari commended Nigeria’s progress in eradicating the wild poliovirus but emphasized that collective action must continue until total eradication is achieved. “We are closer than ever to ending polio, but we must not relent. Every child must be reached, especially those in hard-to-reach communities,” he stated.

He noted that vaccination not only prevents polio but also strengthens health systems, contributes to community resilience, and helps fight other preventable illnesses. He called for stronger investment in primary healthcare and the integration of services such as nutrition, maternal health, and sanitation to ensure holistic child well-being.

“UNICEF will continue working with the Nigerian government, Rotary International, WHO, and community leaders to build vaccine confidence and counter misinformation. The last mile is always the hardest, but it is also the most important,” Dr. Achari said.

In his remarks, the President of the Rotary Club of Bauchi Central, Adeyemi Adekule, said Rotary International remains committed to ending polio and sustaining a healthy future for children.

“World Polio Day is not just a time to celebrate progress; it’s a time to renew our resolve,” Adeyemi said. “Polio survivors remind us of what is at stake. Their resilience inspires us to keep polio at zero.”

He recalled Rotary’s historic contribution to global polio eradication since its establishment in 1905, describing the organization as a key driver of community health initiatives worldwide. Rotary, he said, continues to mobilize resources and volunteers to support immunization campaigns, community education, and healthcare outreach in collaboration with UNICEF and other partners.

“Rotary will keep working hand in hand with our partners to ensure that no child is left behind,” he added. “The fight against polio has brought the world together before - and it must continue to unite us until the job is done.”

Both UNICEF and Rotary reaffirmed that sustained commitment, innovation, and collaboration at all levels - from global organizations to local community groups - are critical to achieving a world free from polio.

In an interview, one of the polio survivors, Dahiru Abdullahi, thanked UNICEF and Rotary International for their care and support. He added that polio is real and urged people not to discriminate against survivors but to include them in all government programmes.

He also called on citizens to accept the polio vaccine to help reduce the spread of the disease in society.