The Rotary International Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to health initiatives in Nigeria, with over $300 million already invested in polio eradication efforts. Mark Maloney, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, made this announcement during a polio immunisation event at Jahi Primary Healthcare Centre, Abuja.
Maloney highlighted Rotary’s significant role in combating polio, urging the Nigerian government to intensify efforts against variant polio type 2, which has caused 92 cases in 2024. He also praised the country’s success in eradicating wild poliovirus, last detected in 2016, and called for a renewed focus to eliminate the variant strain.
Looking ahead, Rotary’s 2025 funding allocations, expected to be decided by February, will include continued support for Nigeria. Although Pakistan and Afghanistan, where wild poliovirus remains endemic, will receive priority, Maloney assured a substantial allocation for Nigeria.
Rotary’s contributions extend beyond polio. The foundation has allocated $2 million to the “Programme of Scale,” aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality by promoting healthcare facility deliveries. Initial results show a notable increase in facility-based births, such as one district improving from 11% to 33% in one year.
Localised immunisation campaigns against vaccine-derived poliovirus are ongoing, with national immunisation days planned twice annually. Efforts are particularly focused on Kano, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, and Sokoto states.
Prof. Emmanuel Lufadeju, National Coordinator of Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria, emphasized the programme’s goal of reducing maternal mortality by 25% through social and behavioural change initiatives, encouraging women to give birth in healthcare facilities rather than at home.
Rotary remains a vital partner in advancing public health and supporting Nigeria’s journey towards a polio-free future.
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