Accra: The Ghana District of Rotary International, District 9104, alongside its partners, has unveiled a significant ‘End Polio Now’ billboard in Accra, urging the global community to intensify efforts to eradicate poliomyelitis. This event is part of Rotary’s activities to mark World Polio Day, observed annually on October 24.
According to Ghana News Agency, the theme for this year’s World Polio Day, ‘End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere,’ emphasizes the importance of ensuring that no child remains unvaccinated. Ghana, while declared polio-free with a 99 percent eradication rate, continues to monitor the disease’s variants in unhealthy environments.
At the unveiling ceremony, District Governor Nana Yaa Siriboe, Dr. Raymond Dankoli, Co-ordinator of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and Prof. John Kofi Odoom from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research were present. They were joined by Rotarians and Rotaractors from various clubs across Ghana. The gathering highlighted the need to eliminate vaccine-derived strains and variants by chanting, “Polio at one place, polio everywhere.”
Participants proudly wore ‘End Polio Now’ t-shirts and displayed placards with messages like ‘Make History Today’ and ‘Thank You for Helping to Eradicate Polio.’ The District Governor praised Rotary and its partners for their dedication to ensuring every child receives vaccination, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to eradicating polio.
In a media interview, Prof. Odoom emphasized the importance of ongoing surveillance to detect new variants, which are often linked to unhealthy environments. Rotary clubs in Ghana that contributed to polio eradication efforts were acknowledged and awarded certificates.
Polio, a highly contagious disease caused by the polio virus, can lead to severe complications, including respiratory failure or death. Symptoms are similar to flu, including fever, fatigue, sore throat, and muscle spasms. The virus spreads primarily through the faecal-oral route, but also via respiratory droplets.
While there is no cure for polio, it can be prevented through vaccination. Currently, wild polio is still present in Afghanistan and Pakistan.