Jos — Newly installed President of Jos South Rotary Club, Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips, has said since the launch of Polio Plus Programme in 1985, the club has contributed over $800 million to the cause of eradicating polio in the world, in addition to countless volunteer hours logged by Rotary Club members world wide.Ero-Phillips lamented that the endemic wild polio-virus had been eliminated from all but four countries, including Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Ero-Phillips said this at Rayfield Golf Club, Jos, when the immediate past President of the club, Mr. John Garba, handed over to him at a colourful ceremony witnessed by past presidents of the club, including Mr. Elvis Chukwu; Solomon Umoh; General Domkat Bali (rtd) who is the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Club; former Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Simon Lalong; Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) Chief Medical Director, Dr. Pam Ishaya, who was represented by the JUTH Head of Public Relations, Mrs. Ngozi Okpara, among others.

Ero-Phillips said recognising Rotary's role as "a spearheading partner in the Global Polio Eradication, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded Rotary Challenge Grant totalling $355 million, which Rotary will match with an additional $200 million over three years. The resulting $555 million will be spent in support of polio eradication activities in polio-endemic and high risk countries.

Nigeria is one of those countries and the northern part of the nation is more affected."

He donated 10 free wheel chairs to polio victims living in the community.