Rotary Club of Port Harcourt GRA Advances Global Polio Eradication Efforts on World Polio Day 2024
On October 24, 2024—World Polio Day—the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt GRA reaffirmed its commitment to a polio-free world through a series of impactful activities that united local communities, healthcare providers, and volunteers.
The day began with a community immunization drive at Nkpolu Health Centre, where club members and volunteers ensured dozens of children received the polio vaccine. This grassroots effort not only safeguarded young lives but also echoed Rotary’s enduring mission to eliminate polio globally.
That evening, the club hosted a fundraising dinner in support of PolioPlus, Rotary International’s flagship program for polio eradication, now expanded to include malaria elimination. The event brought together Rotarians, partners, and supporters in a shared commitment to public health. Funds raised will directly support vaccine procurement, immunization outreach, and health education initiatives in vulnerable communities.
The campaign continued the following day at the Model Primary Health Centre in Akpajo, where volunteers reached even more families through another round of polio immunizations. These sustained efforts demonstrate the club’s dedication to reaching every child, no matter how remote.
Capping off the week’s activities, members of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt GRA joined a district-wide Polio Walk on Saturday, marching alongside healthcare workers, community leaders, and residents through the streets of Port Harcourt. The walk served as a powerful call to action—raising awareness and rallying support for vaccination efforts across the region.
“We believe every child deserves a healthy start in life, free from preventable diseases,” said a club spokesperson. “By supporting immunization campaigns, fundraising for PolioPlus, and fostering community awareness, we are contributing to a global movement that is transforming lives.”
As Rotary continues its historic fight to end polio worldwide, the actions taken by the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt GRA stand as a testament to what can be achieved through compassion, collaboration, and unwavering resolve. Together, we walk. Together, we vaccinate. Together, we will end polio—one step and one vaccine at a time.
