World Polio Day: Rotary Sensitises Nursing Mothers on Hygiene

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

As part of an effort to ensure that Nigeria remains a polio-free country, the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Express, District 9141 in Rivers, has sensitised nursing mothers on the need to maintain personal hygiene.
President of the club, Mr Shittu Abdulrasheed, addressed nursing mothers at an event to mark the 2023 World Polio Day, held at Rumukwurusi Model Health Centre in Port Harcourt.

He stated that despite the country being declared polio-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO), nursing mothers must maintain personal hygiene and regularly immunise their babies to prevent polio and other diseases.

“We have told them basically that it’s very important that every newborn is immunised, and that mothers have a duty to ensure that they practice good personal hygiene, they should wash their hands regularly before preparing food for their kids and after using the toilets,” said Abdulrasheed.
Abdulrasheed said the organisation was committed to eradicating polio.

“We know that we are 99 per cent in kicking polio out of the world, so in case you are wondering why we are still fighting polio, the truth is, so long as polio remains in two countries of the world such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, no child anywhere is safe and Rotary has been involved in this fight including our partners and we intend to fight it till we eradicate polio completely from the surface of the earth,” Abdulrasheed explained.

A former president of the club, Faith Ogbu, said the organisation was reaching out to all nooks and crannies of the world, including rural areas, to ensure that no trace of polio.

A beneficiary, Mrs Favour Chinedu, who benefitted from the free immunisation and sanitary supplies from the club, called on other agencies to emulate Rotary in carrying out charitable activities, especially for nursing mothers and the less privileged.