One Last Push: Imagine a World Without Polio
The fight against polio is not over. Until the disease is eradicated everywhere, continued awareness, vaccination and community action remain essential to protecting children.
On Sunday, 18 October 2026, the Rotary Club of Uyo Metropolis held a special End Polio Now Fellowship to renew its commitment to a polio-free world. The gathering brought together members for an evening of awareness, inspiration, fun and fellowship centred on the global effort to eradicate polio.
The programme featured an insightful talk on polio, a birthday celebration, games and other fun activities. Beyond the fellowship, it provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in the fight against polio and the work that remains.
A Message That Matters
A key highlight of the event was the message from distinguished Past District Governor (PDG) Rtn Akan Emah, MD, who shared why he continues to support the End Polio campaign and why the fight against this preventable disease must continue until polio is eradicated worldwide.
His message reinforced the importance of sustained commitment, public awareness and vaccination in protecting children from the devastating effects of polio.
Polio can cause permanent paralysis and, in severe cases, death. Although significant progress has been made through global immunisation efforts, the risk remains wherever the virus continues to circulate. Reaching every child with the recommended vaccines is therefore essential to ending transmission.
A Call to Mothers, Caregivers and Communities
A central message of the campaign is the role parents and caregivers play in protecting children. Mothers, fathers and guardians are encouraged to ensure that their children receive routine immunisations, participate in supplementary polio vaccination campaigns when offered, and follow the guidance of qualified healthcare workers.
They are also encouraged to share accurate information with other parents and help address misconceptions about vaccination.
Protecting one child contributes to protecting the wider community. When families and communities work with healthcare workers to ensure that children are vaccinated, they help close the gaps through which the virus can spread.
Imagine a World Without Polio
For the Rotary Club of Uyo Metropolis, the End Polio Now campaign is about more than raising awareness. It is about protecting lives, safeguarding childhoods and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to walk, run, play and live a healthy life.
Through advocacy, community education and sustained support for immunisation, Rotarians continue to contribute to the global effort to eradicate polio.
The fellowship also served as a reminder that meaningful service can be strengthened through friendship, shared learning and collective action.
The goal remains clear: a world where no child suffers the lifelong consequences of a disease that can be prevented through vaccination.
One last push. One shared commitment. A world without polio.
The fight is not over until polio is gone everywhere. Let us keep spreading the message, encouraging immunisation and turning our commitment into action.
End Polio Now.