Rotary supports polio-free world, to vaccinate kids

Rotary supports polio-free world, to vaccinate kids. CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA

WITH the aim to achieve a polio-free world, the Rotary International District 3680 is bringing in a program to fully eradicate the sickness.

The Rotary District 3860 will be conducting the “Patak” Polio Immunization Day on October 24, providing polio vaccines to children below five years old, who are most likely to contract the disease.

However, Mary Ann Soria, Rotary Area One project coordinator, said that people who often travel are also advised to take the vaccine.

The patak polio immunization will happen in the four barangay health offices in Cebu City, namely, Inayawan, Lahug, Tejero and Tisa.

Soria said other government officials like Cebu City Health Officer Dr. Alma Corpin, Department of Health in Central Visayas Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas, and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Rene Catan are also supporting the project.

Those who have been scheduled to take the vaccine on the 24th will be given priority.

Soria said that Cebu has now zero case of polio.

Last year, only 22 polio cases were recorded worldwide, which is a 99.9 percent reduction since the polio outbreak in the 1980s.