Members of the Club of Kigali Karisimbi, Kigali Virunga, Kigali Cosmopolitan, the Club of Kigali Seniors, and other Rotarians, have reiterated their commitment to fighting polio in Rwanda, joining the global effort to eradicate the disease.
These clubs, under the umbrella of Rotary International, highlighted their ongoing support for the government’s initiatives to ensure a polio-free future. This was during a press conference held on October 28, at Kigali Public Library, under the theme: "I contribute to the global polio eradication effort through my commitment to following the vaccination schedule. How about you?”
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This year’s theme emphasized the importance of vaccinations in the global campaign to eradicate polio. Rotary clubs around the world have been at the forefront of these efforts, mobilizing volunteers, professionals, and parents to contribute to immunization campaigns.
This event was one of many community engagement efforts by Rotary members, with a particular focus on public health, education, environmental conservation, and more.
Polio, a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease, has long been the focus of global health campaigns. There is no cure, but safe and effective vaccines have proven to offer lifetime protection when administered multiple times.
Since 1988, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has led the charge against the disease, contributing to a remarkable 99.99 per cent reduction in polio cases worldwide with a notable contribution from Rotarians.
According to Rotary International, only two countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan, continue to report cases of wild poliovirus, keeping the final step toward eradication within reach.
Rwanda received polio-free certification from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2004. The last recorded case of wild poliovirus in the country was detected in 1993.
During the press briefing, Paul Birungi Masterjab, the past Assistant District Governor of Rotary in Rwanda from 2017 to 2018, also a member of Rotary Club Kigali Virunga and Executive Director of the club, said that in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and others. stakeholders, collective efforts in vaccination drives, have been instrumental in keeping Rwanda polio-free.
"We wanted to raise awareness to the public and the efforts of Rotary International and its partners, mainly the Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations International Children&039;s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)," he noted.
"Polio is currently being eradicated in the face of the world. Only two countries remain and we’re working towards ending it there. We’re being disrupted by instabilities which make it hard to conduct vaccinations. That holds us back.”
Birungi said that over the weekend, Rotarians families participated in the walk on the public roads, which significantly increased awareness.
Alexis Muderevu, an Emergency Surgeon and Emergency Medicine Specialist at Kanombe Military Hospital, and a member of Rotary International responsible for the Polio Plus initiative, expressed optimism about local vaccination efforts. He highlighted that vaccination accessibility ensures no one is left behind.
However, he said, as Rotarians, their mission remains unfinished until the remaining one percent of unvaccinated individuals becomes part of history, thereby eradicating polio entirely.
World Polio Day, celebrated annually on October 24, commemorates the birthday of Jonas Salk, who led the team that developed the first effective polio vaccine. This day serves as a reminder of the progress made and work that remains.