Ensuring routine immunisation for every child, raising public awareness and strengthening collective efforts in healthcare are essential to building a polio-free world, said Dr Shahadat Hossain, Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC).
He made the remarks as the chief guest at a colourful rally and awareness programme organised by the RIPSA team of Rotary International District 65 on Saturday, October 24, at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), Chattogram Centre, marking World Polio Day.
The programme was chaired by Rotarian PP Mantaka Zaman Kappi.
Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain said polio is a contagious viral disease that can pose a serious health risk, particularly to children. Infection can lead to severe complications, including permanent paralysis. Although there is no specific curative treatment for polio, the disease can be prevented through proper immunisation. Therefore, every child must be ensured access to vaccination. He also stressed the importance of raising awareness among parents and dispelling misconceptions about healthcare.
He said Bangladesh had made significant progress towards eradicating polio. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the last case of wild poliovirus-associated disease in Bangladesh was detected in 2006. In 2014, the WHO certified its South-East Asia Region as polio-free. However, the global goal of eradicating polio has yet to be fully achieved. Bangladesh must therefore sustain its progress by continuing routine immunisation, disease detection and surveillance activities.
The mayor further emphasised that polio eradication cannot be achieved by any individual, organisation or country acting alone. It requires coordinated efforts by the government, healthcare workers, voluntary organisations, physicians, elected representatives and the general public. Everyone must play a responsible role in ensuring that children from remote and disadvantaged communities are not left behind in vaccination programmes. Protecting children’s health, he said, means safeguarding the future generation.
Commending Rotary International for its contribution, the mayor said the organisation had long played a significant role in global efforts to eradicate polio. Through its support for immunisation programmes, public awareness campaigns and international cooperation, Rotary continues to contribute to the protection of public health worldwide.
He added that Rotary’s humanitarian initiatives were commendable not only in the fight against polio but also in education, healthcare, support for disadvantaged people and broader social development. Effective participation by voluntary organisations alongside the government can further strengthen public health initiatives.
“As a physician, I believe that preventive healthcare must receive the highest priority alongside treatment,” he said. “Immunisation is an effective public health intervention that protects children against many preventable diseases. We must therefore work together to provide people with accurate information about vaccination, expand access to healthcare services and raise public awareness.”
He added that Chattogram City Corporation was playing a leading role in making immunisation programmes successful as part of its efforts to transform Chattogram into a healthy city.
Director of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr Fazle Rabbi, and RIPSA Committee Adviser and Deputy Country Coordinator PDG Abdul Ahad addressed the programme as special guests.
In the presence of invited guests, 10 sewing machines were also handed over to 10 disadvantaged women to help them become financially self-reliant.
The programme was organised and coordinated with the efforts of Coordinator PP Nazrul Islam Nantu, PP Minhaj U Nahian, PP Ibrahim Hasan, Deputy Co-ordinator PP Sudip Kumar Chanda, Registration Chair PP Tahia Kabir, Registration Co-chair PP Zahidul Islam, and Assistant Co-ordinator and Event Promotion Chair PP Hasanuzzaman Shantu.
Also present were RIPSA Senior Coordinator PP Abu Tayeb, PP Moniruzzaman, PP Ferdous Ara, Senior Special Aid PP Aftab Uddin Siddiqui, PP Rizwan Shahidi, PP Emdadul Aziz Chowdhury and other leaders of Rotary District 65, current and former presidents of various Rotary clubs, club members and invited guests.
The organisers said the World Polio Day programme aimed to raise public awareness about polio eradication, highlight the importance of routine childhood immunisation and engage people from all sections of society in the global initiative.
Participants in the rally expressed their commitment to building a polio-free world and voiced their solidarity with Rotary International’s “End Polio Now” campaign.
The programme concluded with a renewed commitment to collective action and humanitarian service.
