Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, has called on mothers and care-givers to make their under-five children available for vaccination as often as required.

Speaking at the inauguration of polio walk tagged; "End Polio Now Mega Rally", to mark the World Polio Day held at the Government House, Ilorin, in conjunction with Rotary International, Ahmed promised to intensify efforts towards sustaining the gains of polio eradication in the state and Nigeria in general.

He reiterated his commitment to intensifying support for immunisation which he said was the backbone of all vaccine preventable diseases, stressing a need to remain committed to funding immunisation and responding to surveillance.

He commended the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and Rotary Club for their roles in polio intervention and immunisation in the state. He urged the people to shun superstitious beliefs and unfolded suspicion of health programmes.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Alhaji Raufu Ayinla noted that polio and other childhood diseases were preventable with proper vaccinations and encouraged mothers and care-givers to always make their children available for immunisation.

In her remarks, the representative of UNICEF, Hajia Aminah Hassan-Bagudu enjoined relevant agencies to sustain their campaign and intervention towards making the world free of polio.