NNAMDI Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, was a cynosure of all eyes as residents of the Coal City, mostly women, at the weekend, precisely October 24, gathered at the arena to commemorate this year’s World Polio Day.
The event, which commenced at the stadium, later moved to Poly Clinic and Michael Okpara Square Hall in Enugu metropolis.
Speaking at the occasion, Mrs Monica Ugwuanyi, wife of Enugu State governor, used the occasion to call on mothers to ensure that efforts to prevent polio in the state were sustained.
Mrs Ugwuanyi, during the flag-off, explained that the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration had since its inauguration been working to provide quality health care, noting that polio eradication was one of such noble objectives.
Urging mothers to always keep a close watch on their babies’ health, Mrs Ugwuanyi advised them to practise exclusive breastfeeding until six months. “You have to ensure that you immunize them against polio and other diseases. Don’t forget that polio is dangerous,” she added.
Also speaking, the District Governor-nominee of Rotary District 9142 Enugu, Dr Dan Ajawara, said Rotarians across the world remained committed to the goal of “kicking out polio”. That global commitment has yielded positive results, he said, adding that it’s regrettable the virus had resurfaced in Nigeria despite the success of massive immunisation campaigns.
The high point of the occasion were the administering of oral polio vaccines on some children and unveiling the polio plaque.
and then