During several events and campaigns conducted across the country, Rotary members and their partners highlighted their progress aiming to inspire continued action toward a polio-free world.
Jeannette Rugera, a Past Assistant District Governor of Rotary Rwanda, described the Rotary Clubs' commitment to eradicating polio, noting their work with over 400 members across 12 Rotary clubs and five Rotaractor clubs in Rwanda.
"Our clubs are unified in this cause and awareness campaigns are ongoing because this disease's impact doesn't end at our borders," she said.
In this year's activities to contribute to the cause, children were vaccinated in Kamonyi district's Gihara Sector, a critical step in maintaining Rwanda's polio-free status and organized an awareness walk on Sunday the 27th Oct 2024 and the general public asked about it and they were told what the walk is all about- 'to sensitize Mother's to make sure they take their kids for vaccination programs to their nearest Post the Sante, and to celebrate so far the 99.99% achievement of eradication of its impact worldwide.
Globally, Polio is no longer a health threat and efforts against its eradication remain steadfast. Rotary's global partners in this campaign include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, and the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Recent WHO data shows that polio is now 99.9% eradicated globally, with only isolated cases remaining in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and some parts of Gaza highlighting the disease's near elimination and diminishing threat.
However, these outbreaks underscore the importance of sustained immunization campaigns, as Dr Muhayimpundu Marie Aimée, a representative from WHO Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), indicated.
'Vaccination is still our strongest defense. There is need for ongoing vaccination and surveillance. 'We've seen how polio can sometimes reappear and without continuous efforts, the situation is unpredictable,' she said.
In addition to its Polio eradication campaigns, Rotary- Rwanda has been supporting individuals affected by the disease. Masterjerb Paul Birungi, former president of Rotary Club Virunga in 2004/5 shared some of the club's efforts in helping those living with disabilities.
'During my tenure as Rotary Club Kigali Virunga President, we distributed over 550 wheelchairs country wide to all the Gatagara Centres and established a center at Kanombe Military Hospital to manufacture and provide artificial limbs to people in need,' Birungi said.
'We're working to create an inclusive environment where people with disabilities due to Polio can thrive, encouraging sports participation and empowering them through international disability programs.'
Rotary Rwanda's impact extends to education as well where as a way of promoting a culture of reading through library initiatives that empower Rwandans with knowledge and opportunities, Rotary Club Kigali Virunga, established the Kigali Public library at Kacyiru right now where the Press Conference is taking place.
As World Polio Day pays homage to Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the first polio vaccine, Rotary- Rwanda members remain with a vision of a 'world free of polio', a goal within reach if everyone plays par according to Birungi.
Sam K Nkurunziza
