Engineer Innocent Akuvue, FNSE , a Port Harcourt- based Engineer has expressed commitment to raising awareness on polio and the eradication of the disease.
Akuvue who is the newest face to join Rotary’s ‘Keep Polio@zero’ public awareness campaign for polio eradication is the Chairman of GGI International Nigeria Limited,an indigenous chemical manufacturing company in Port Harcourt,Rivers State.
. A paralyzing and life altering disease, polio is on the verge of becoming the second human disease ever to be eliminated worldwide after smallpox.
Akuvue,,’s financial contributions to the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt City Valley in the campaign will raise important awareness that will help ensure the outbreak is stopped and the zero status in Nigeria is maintained.
“This is a cause that hits close to home for me, not only as a father of children, but as a proud Nigerian, whose country has been battling this disease for many years, thank God it’s no more in Nigeria. But we have to maintain this status”, he said.
Engineer Akuvue joins other public figures participating in Rotary’s public awareness campaign, in Rivers State, including Passion Queen, Dr Ijeoma Pearl Okoro, of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt, Dr Chikanele Asuru PHF of Rotary Club of Mgbuoba, HRH. Rtn. Christopher Wonodi of Rotary Club of Port Harcourt South, Edwin Okolie of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Phoenix and others.
President of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt City View, Rotarian Nomso Ogbuefi who led members of the club in company of the new Club’s Polio Ambassador, Engr. Akuvue, to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Community Medicine Department, donated some set of chairs to the department, and also administered Polio Vaccines, Worm expellers and Vitamin A to some children at the hospital, as part of the club’s project activities to mark the World Polio day.
President Ogbuefi urged all to support and collaborate with the polio ambassador to ensure the sustenance of zero polio in Nigeria and a successful eradication of the disease in the rest of Africa. “The message will be clear: polio must be eradicated, and leaders must all collaborate in order for the effort to be successful. We have made tremendous progress in the fight against polio in Nigeria, but we cannot afford to slow our efforts now. We will utilise his professional and personal skills and connections to advocate for activities that support immunization activities throughout Nigeria and West Africa”, He said.
The World Polio Day activities also saw the empowerment of four polio survivors with grants to encourage them in their small scale businesses and some arm wheel chairs to aid their movement.
Our correspondent Precious Ahiakwo-Ovie reports the Rotary club of Port Harcourt City Valley held an evening event tagged “Fellowship with Polio Survivors”, with highlights of talks by Dr Patrick Ohia on Effect on Rotary in Polio Eradication. A Fund Raising was carried out for support of the Fight against Polio.
Rotary launched its polio immunization program PolioPlus in 1985 and in 1988 became a spearheading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and more recently the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.
