The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State Branch, has called for sustained vaccination, public awareness and effective disease surveillance to protect children from polio and achieve a polio-free world.
Chairman of the association, Dr. (Prof.) Ureh Annabel Oparaodu, made the call as the medical community commemorated World Polio Day 2026, marked on October 24, under the theme, “One Day. One Focus: Ending Polio.”
Oparaodu stressed the need for collective action and sustained commitment to immunisation to protect children against the preventable disease.
She noted that polio remains a public health concern in areas where transmission persists, warning that the disease could cause irreversible paralysis and, in severe cases, death.
According to the NMA chairman, although global efforts have recorded significant progress towards polio eradication, continued vigilance and consistent immunisation remain essential to ensure that no child is left unprotected.
She emphasised that achieving a polio-free world is possible if individuals, health professionals and relevant stakeholders sustain their efforts until the disease is eradicated globally.
The NMA Rivers State Branch reiterated its commitment to supporting efforts towards polio eradication, urging collective responsibility in the fight against the disease.
“One Day. One Focus: Ending Polio. Together, we can end polio,” the association stated.
