03/09/2025
*Nigeria risks polio resurgence without routine immunisation — Rotary President - Elect*
The President-Elect of Rotary International, Yinka Babalola, has warned that without routine immunisation against polio, children in Nigeria remain at risk of contracting the disease.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at a press briefing, Babalola noted that despite Nigeria being certified polio-free, routine immunisation coverage in the country remains abysmally low.
He emphasised that until routine vaccination improves, no child is truly safe.
“There are some issues that have emerged in many countries where polio has been eradicated. You need to continue vaccinating children because until there are no more cases of polio, no child is safe.
“Our routine immunisation coverage as a country has been very low. You need about 80 percent coverage to achieve what we call herd immunity. That level prevents the virus from surviving. Yet, on average, some of our states are as low as 13 percent in the Northwest.
“You will notice that many of the cases you are now seeing as a variant of COVID are mostly in parts of the country where routine immunisation coverage is very low,” he added.
Babalola also highlighted the critical role of Rotary Clubs nationwide in supporting health centres in their communities. Their efforts include offering nutritional assistance and helping expectant mothers register for antenatal care — a simple yet vital step in preventing maternal and infant deaths.
At the national level, he said Rotary is backing a $2 million pilot programme aimed at reducing maternal and childhood mortality in Gombe, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory, an initiative that has already shown positive results.
He added that Rotary has also launched a $9.8 million health intervention focused on combating malaria, diarrhoea, and pneumonia, which are among the leading causes of death in children under five in Nigeria.
Reflecting on Rotary’s decades-long campaign, Babalola recalled a time when polio killed or disabled 1,000 children every day across 125 countries, adding that today, that number has been dramatically reduced.
“Now, only two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, are still considered polio-endemic. Even in those countries, the number of wild polio cases recorded last year was less than 50, mostly isolated to border regions,” he said.
With polio on the verge of global eradication, he reaffirmed that Rotary’s mission remains unchanged: a polio-free world for every child, everywhere.
“Our promise to the children of the world is that polio shall not kill nor maim any child. That’s our promise. Until we deliver on that promise, we shall not pursue any other corporate initiative,” he added.
Recall that Babalola was announced last Thursday as the president-elect of Rotary International for the 2026/2027 Rotary year.
His emergence makes him the second African and Nigerian to lead the global humanitarian organisation.
The announcement was made in a statement released by Rotary Public Image Coordinator for Africa Zone 22, Region 27, Ibim Semenitari, last Thursday.
He will officially assume office on July 1, 2026.
