Past President of Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Spring Gardens District 9141 Nigeria, Rotarian Festus Etsemitan has timely advised parents to do well to allow their children under the ages of 0-5years to be vaccinated when the professional health officers come visiting at their door step so to guide against polio disease.
Rtn. Etsemitan who gave the advise while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt during the World Polio Day held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, remarked that the advice has become imperative, having seen the devastating affect of polio on Children who were not properly vaccinated which will also lead to mental health issues.
Continuing, Rtn. Etsemitan futher took time to explain more on what the mental health awareness is all about which according to him would lead to serious mental issues.
According to him, “mental health awareness is all about one being conscious of his or her mental state so as to prevent other mental health issues, noting that if you don’t guide against polio, it will affect one’s mental health”.
“Therefore, as Rotary International we are equally out in combating the mental health issues through polio vaccination, having seen that if you vaccinate any child well against polio, it will help to boast the child’s future in growing hale and healthy without any deformation”.
“Indeed, Rotary is also standing against mental health problem through polio vaccination”.
“Though a child could be intelligent quite alright and be seen functioning without stricks or any other walking aids but will find it difficuly to integrate with other children if it happens to be affected with polio disease”.
He, however, maintained that mental health awareness is a key to polio vaccination and therefore pleads with parents to make their children available to be properly vaccinated against the deadly disease whenever the opportunity come calling within their reach.
