World Polio Day media blitz in Benin!

Rotarians in Benin organised a massive media blitz in the run up to and on World Polio Day today, organising a feast of activities – from radio interviews on OCEAN FM on Polio and the implications of Rotarians in this fight to the End by the NPPC Chair Ashok Mirchandini -to Past President, Prof Hypolete Agboton (a member of the National Eradication Experts Committee), doing an animated hour-long phone-in show on CAPP FM. Chair Ashok also did a 52 minute show on LC2 TV on all aspects of polio eradication. This was followed by a 15 minute interview on National TV ORTB, with Zenabs THIS CLOSE AD serving as a backdrop.

Newspaper THIS CLOSE ads and interviews with Chair Ashok in dailies completed the well-organised media blitz spearheaded by Rotary Public Image coordinator for Zone 20A –  Boris Crestia.

Ashok Mirchandani, who is also the Zone Challenge Coordinator,  got Rotarians to double their TRF recognition points by contributing to the Polio Fund during the week leading from 18-24 October. “This will add to the Polio Gates Challenge. If online contributions were not mandatory, the contributions would have been much greater, but we hope they will come up with a double the points scheme for Africa to enable us to Kick Polio Out of Africa”.

The next NID rounds in Benin have been pushed forward three weeks to 19 -21 November. The West African state of Benin this week,  has been hit by the worst floods in living memory. Two-thirds of the country is affected by the flooding, with around 700,000 people having lost their homes. This could impact negatively on polio eradication efforts.

The KPOA team send their condolences to the people of Benin in their tragic loss and are with them in spirit at this sad and difficult time.