Alyson Lewis, British Red Cross health delegate, sent this report from Nigeria about the Nigerian Red Cross' nationwide polio immunisation campaign.
"Kick polio out of Nigeria forever’, read the bright green tabards worn by thousands of Red Cross volunteers and health workers across Nigeria. In a bid to eradicate polio from the country, which has the greatest number of polio cases in the world, national immunisation has begun.
"It is clear that in the capital Lagos and other parts of the country, thousands are eager to have their children vaccinated.
"As part of my role working with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Lagos, I joined the Red Cross volunteers from the Lagos State Branch for a day to see for myself how the campaign was going.
"The volunteers formed "sweep groups" to cover the urban sprawl. Despite the huge task ahead, they worked with great enthusiasm. As we made our way through the bustling streets, the volunteers would stop and provide children with the vaccine - each child received a violet mark on their left thumb. They also visited children in their homes and, in these cases, the houses were also marked.
"During the day we visited Pedro, which is a settlement situated under the long bridge connecting Victoria and Ikoyi Islands to the mainland. The settlement is vast and getting bigger by the day. In fact, as we moved around in our canoes we saw new huts being built.
"Young children were paddling around in their boats with a few items for sale, others were swimming in the oily black lagoon. As we stepped onto dry land, little children came forward to welcome us, happy to receive the vaccine. They sang a song about polio, waving their little hands in the air.
"As the day went on, the volunteers worked tirelessly through the various areas, singing, explaining and campaigning."
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