The event took place on October 19, 2025, as part of an advocacy campaign aimed at vaccinating children and raising awareness about the prevention of polio.
The campaign took place during a community sports event in Kigali, where members of Rotary Clubs in Rwanda walked from BK Arena to the Kigali Convention Centre.
The campaign was also attended by the Governor of District 9150, which includes Rwanda and nine other countries, on his visit to Rotary Clubs in Rwanda.
Victor Zinda, who contracted the disease at a young age, shared how his life has been significantly impacted by the disability caused by polio.
“My parents told me I contracted polio when I was just one year old. The only way to prevent it is through vaccination because it is extremely painful and deadly. It paralyzes parts of the body, and that’s what happened to me. I suffered a lot because I was in a refugee camp. Imagine combining the challenges of being a refugee with the disability caused by polio,” he said.
Despite his disability, Zinda refused to give up. He rebuilt his life, got married, wrote a book, and began humanitarian work aimed at helping people with disabilities and combating diseases that cause disabilities.
Sibomana Hassan, the head of the Immunization Program at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, explained that polio is a disease that causes severe disabilities or death, with no cure, but vaccines remain the key to preventing the disease.
Dr. Alexis Muderevu, Chair of the Rotary Rwanda Polio Committee and President of the Rotary Club Kigali, emphasized that although Rwanda was declared polio-free in 2004, the virus remains present in some neighboring countries, calling for continued vigilance to prevent its resurgence.
He stated, “Without continuous awareness campaigns, people may become complacent and believe polio is gone. However, in neighboring countries, the disease is still present. Due to the movement of people, there is a possibility that polio could return to Rwanda.”
He continued, “Vaccinating children against polio is essential, and hygiene is critical. Parents with young children are at high risk if they do not maintain proper hygiene.”
Dr. Muderevu also stressed that preventing polio requires good hygiene practices, especially with drinking water, food, handwashing, and using the toilet, as these practices are vital in preventing the transmission of the virus.
He acknowledged the leadership of the Rwandan government who joined the sports event alongside Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who was completing his visit to Rwanda.
Dr. Muderevu also thanked the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for their continued partnership in the fight against polio.
Suman Alla, the Deputy Governor of District 9150 in Rwanda, highlighted the importance of addressing health issues like polio, noting that countries such as Chad have already invested $3 million to eradicate the disease, while across Africa, over $1 billion has been spent to eliminate polio.
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