The Rotary Club of Ikoyi has urged Nigeria’s economic managers to invest more in polio vaccination to sustain the country’s progress in eradicating the disease.
Although Nigeria was declared free of wild poliovirus in 2020, the Rotary Club emphasised that continuous efforts are needed to prevent any resurgence.
President of the Rotary Club of Ikoyi, Emmanuel Effuntayo, made the call during Rotary Family Health Days held in conjunction with World Polio Day.
He called on the federal government to partner with non-governmental organisations to enhance funding aimed at improving citizens’ health and welfare.
He highlighted the importance of the ongoing vaccinations and medical programmes for the well-being of Nigerians.
The Rotary Family Health Days event, co-hosted by the Rotary Club of Dolphin Estate, saw both clubs visiting primary health centres in the Ikoyi-Obalende and Iru-Victoria Island areas of Lagos State to vaccinate children against polio and raise awareness about the importance of early detection in combating breast and cervical cancer.
Effuntayo stated that Rotary’s health initiatives aim to fill gaps in the healthcare system, particularly for those below the poverty line.
He called on the government to support and fund regular health checkups for underserved populations.
“The Rotary Club has already spent over N1 million on the first phase of this health initiative, targeting 1,000 beneficiaries,” he said.
A past president of the Rotary Club of Ikoyi, Nike Miyaki, emphasised the importance of early detection in treating breast and cervical cancers.
She highlighted how devastating breast cancer can be for those affected and underscored the Rotary Club’s commitment to preventive care and early screening.
Additionally, the Rotary Club’s medical coordinator, Douglas Jumbo, stressed the importance of combating malaria, a prevalent disease in the region.
He noted that the Rotary Club aims to provide malaria treatments, especially for those living below the poverty line, and emphasised that the programme is a national initiative running across various districts in Nigeria.
The charter president of the Rotary Club of Dolphin Estate, Oyebola Adeyanju, praised the state government for its partnership in raising awareness about health issues.
Adeyanju emphasised the need for more people to understand their health status and seek preventive care.
One beneficiary, Mrs. Alaba Aderinkola, expressed gratitude for the free medical services, stating that she received medications and eyeglasses at no cost, which would have been expensive otherwise.
Services offered at the Rotary Family Health Days included screenings and treatments for malaria, HIV, hypertension, and tuberculosis, among others.