Polio Survivors Take Centre Stage in Borno Football Match
By Ali Mohammed Zanna, Maiduguri
Polio survivors in Borno State have taken part in a special football match organised to promote inclusion and renewed commitment to ending polio in the state.
The match, held at the El-Kanemi Warriors Sports Centre in Maiduguri, was organised by the Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Board (BoSPHCDB) with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Held under the theme, “Stronger Together for a Polio-Free Future,” the event brought together polio survivors, health workers, development partners and other stakeholders to raise awareness on polio prevention and celebrate the resilience of survivors.
Representing the Executive Secretary of BoSPHCDB, Prof. Muhammad Arab Alhaji, the Director of Community and Family Health Services, Dr Abdulwahab Ahmad Mala, urged participants to sustain efforts towards preventing polio transmission and outbreaks.
Mala stressed the importance of community awareness, collective responsibility and routine immunisation in protecting children against the disease.
He commended the polio survivors for their courage, resilience and determination, saying their participation in the football match demonstrated that disability should not prevent anyone from enjoying inclusion, dignity and active participation in society.
He also called on communities to continue supporting vaccination activities and other public health interventions aimed at sustaining the gains recorded in the fight against polio.
Management and staff of BoSPHCDB participated in the event, reaffirming the board’s commitment to strengthening immunisation, community engagement and other initiatives aimed at achieving and maintaining a polio-free Borno.
The organisers said the match was designed not only as a sporting activity but also as a platform to celebrate resilience, promote inclusion and strengthen collective action against polio.
