The Rotary International Foundation announced a substantial commitment of over $300 million to support polio eradication efforts in Nigeria, underscoring the organization’s unwavering dedication to public health initiatives worldwide. Mark Maloney, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, made the announcement during a polio immunization event at a Primary Healthcare Centre in Jahi, Abuja, on Thursday.
In his address, Maloney highlighted that eradicating polio, particularly the variant type two poliovirus reported in 2024, remains Rotary’s foremost priority. He emphasized the necessity of intensifying efforts to combat polio variants, noting that success in this endeavor would significantly benefit the Nigerian government.
The Chairman commended Nigeria’s Federal Government for its accountability program aimed at polio eradication and acknowledged the contributions of Rotarians in the fight against the disease.
“The Nigerian government is facing a significant challenge with the continuation of variant polio type two, with approximately 92 cases reported so far in 2024,” he said.
He encouraged the government to renew its commitment to eradication efforts, similar to the successful campaign against the Wild Polio Virus.
Looking ahead, Maloney indicated that Rotary intends to allocate additional funds for Nigeria in 2025, although specific amounts are still to be determined. He mentioned an expected $50 million allocation, highlighting that a considerable portion would be directed towards Pakistan and Afghanistan, where the Wild Polio Virus remains endemic. Nonetheless, he assured that Nigeria would receive a significant financial commitment.
In addition to polio eradication initiatives, the Rotary International Foundation has allocated $2 million to its Programme of Scale project, which aims to reduce birth-related mortality in Nigeria. This initiative focuses on increasing the number of births occurring in medical facilities rather than at home, illustrating an increase in facility-based births from 11% to 33% in one district.
Joshua Hassan, Chairman of the Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee, shared insights into the outbreak immunization efforts being implemented at the local level in response to vaccine-derived polio variants. National immunization days are being planned twice a year to address the ongoing health crisis.
Prof. Emmanuel Lufadeju, the National Coordinator for Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria, provided details on the Programme of Scale project, aiming to decrease maternal mortality by 25% through community engagement, medical outreach, and behavioral change training.
Mark Maloney’s visit to Nigeria includes advocacy efforts, symbolic immunizations, and consultations with government officials, including a scheduled meeting with President Bola Tinubu. This strategic visit aims to reinforce international collaboration and support in the critical fight against polio in Nigeria.
