AUCHI, Edo State — Rotary clubs across Edo North Senatorial District on Saturday, October 24, 2026, took their campaign against poliomyelitis to the streets of Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, calling for sustained public awareness, vaccination advocacy and collective action to protect children from the preventable disease.
The annual End Polio awareness campaign was organised to commemorate World Polio Day, observed globally on October 24, and to remind residents of the importance of immunisation in the fight to eradicate polio.
Seven Rotary clubs participated in the exercise: Rotary Club of Auchi Metropolitan, Rotary Club of Auchi Central, Rotary Club of Auchi Hilltop, Rotary Club of Okpella Magical, Rotary Club of Auchi Prestige, Rotary Club of Iyamho Whitesands and Rotary Club of Ibie ProMax.
The awareness campaign commenced at Jattu Junction, proceeded through Polytechnic Road and ended at the Public Field in Auchi, where participating Rotarians engaged in public sensitisation on the dangers of polio and the need to protect children through vaccination.
During the exercise, announcements were made to educate residents about the disease, the importance of completing recommended vaccination schedules and the role of communities in supporting eradication efforts.
The campaign also highlighted the need for parents, caregivers and community leaders to remain actively involved in efforts to ensure that children receive recommended vaccines and are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Addressing members after the exercise, the Assistant Governor of Rotary Area 24, Ambassador Christopher Osamudiamen Ighodaro, spoke on the significance of the campaign and the sustained commitment required to achieve a polio-free society.
His remarks reinforced the need for continued community engagement and public education, particularly in ensuring that awareness about polio prevention translates into action by families and communities.
The Auchi campaign formed part of broader activities marking World Polio Day across Nigeria. On the same day, Rotary leaders nationwide called on parents and caregivers to ensure that children receive their recommended polio vaccines, warning that continued vigilance remains necessary despite Nigeria’s progress against the disease.
Nigeria was certified free of indigenous wild poliovirus in 2020, a major public-health milestone achieved through years of immunisation campaigns, surveillance, community mobilisation and collaboration among government agencies and international partners. However, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus continues to pose a challenge, making sustained vaccination and disease surveillance essential.
Rotary International has played a longstanding role in global polio eradication through its End Polio Now campaign, working with public-health authorities and international partners to support vaccination, raise funds and increase awareness.
The Edo North awareness walk demonstrated the contribution of local Rotary clubs to that wider effort, bringing the message directly to residents through community engagement rather than relying solely on formal announcements.
As the global fight against polio continues, public-health authorities and eradication partners have stressed that sustained immunisation, accurate information and community cooperation remain critical to ensuring that every child is protected.
The participating Rotary clubs reaffirmed through the campaign the importance of maintaining public awareness and encouraging collective responsibility until polio is eradicated.
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