Twenty Fouth of October every year is set aside to celebrate World Polio Day.
The day was first celebrated in 2009 established by Rotary International to honour the birthday of Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the first successful polio vaccine.
This day also provides a platform for deliberation on the requisite measures to permanently eliminate polio from the face of the earth.
In Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital Capital, Rotary Club International marked the day with road walk rally to some parts of Ilorin Metropolis.
The members of the Club commenced the road walk round the heart of the town from George Innih Stadium Complex to Taiwo, Surulere, Bababoko Market, Agbooba and back to Stadium.
Speaking at the road walk rally, Zonal Coordinator, Zone3 District 9126 Rotary International, Rotarian Ayodeji Olagunju, explained that Rotary mission is to end polio and sensitize the populace residing in the state to get well informed on the need for them to immunize their children.
He observed the rally was to enable people them aware of what Rotary International has been doing to eradicate polio on the surface of the earth.
 Rotarian Olagunju submitted that Polio is at 99.9 percent to be off earth now as only places where polio ravaging is Afghanistan and Pakistan while disease written off in Nigeria.
In her submission, Rotarian Yatunde Fatoyinbo said the essence of the rally was to advocate unhindered immunization of children from zero to age 5 and urged parents to always immunize their to insulate their children.
Rotarian Fatoyinbo appreciated United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, World Health Organization, WHO, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Corp Members and other partners for their collaboration to the success of the celebration.
Also, President of Rotary Club of Ilorin Metro and President of all the Presidents in Kwara State,Rotarian Buhari Oladimeji elucidated that the road walk against polio was a special day for Rotary International as one of their mandates to end polio globally.
Rotarian Oladimeji said the the key message of rally is for the children to be free of polio to secure their well-being.
In his remark, Kwara State Coordinator, World Health Organization, WHO (Field Office), Dr Emmanuel Eyitayo said the gathering is to celebrate the Africa’s progress towards continent free polio and renew their collective commitment to protecting every child from preventable disease.
Dr Eyitayo stated that this year’s theme “End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere” is a call to ensure that no child in any setting is left unprotected
He pointed out that between January and October this year,15 African Countries reached nearly 200 million children with at least one dose of polio vaccine through supplementary immunization rounds.
Doctor Eyitayo encouraged all stakeholders to rekindle their efforts to reach every child with every vaccine everywhere to nip the disease in the mud.
