I am Colonel Cécé Richard Haba of the Guinean army and Prefect of Kérouané. It is with great honour and responsibility that I hold this office for the second time in this prefecture. I am married and the father of seven children, three of them girls.

My commitment to the polio vaccination campaigns is deeply tied to the values that have guided my entire military career. In the army, we learn early the meaning of duty, self-sacrifice, discipline and the will to serve the nation whatever the circumstances. We are trained to protect our country and to defend lives. That mission is not limited to defending the territory; it also means contributing to the wellbeing and health of our fellow citizens.

I am convinced that no country can develop without a healthy population. In the military profession, physical fitness is essential to recruitment. Before serving his country, every citizen must first be able to do so. That is why I regard the vaccination of children as an investment in the future of our nation. Every child protected against polio is a future citizen able to contribute to Guinea's social, economic and human development.

For me, then, the fight against polio is a matter of duty. When our children are threatened by a preventable disease, we have a moral and civic obligation to act. As the prefectural authority, I cannot stand by as a spectator. I must be present, mobilise stakeholders and support the teams in the field.

During the second round of the campaign — which I consider an important challenge for our prefecture — I personally chaired the advocacy meeting to strengthen the engagement of administrative, health and community authorities. I also officially launched the campaign at the prefectural level to demonstrate my support and to encourage communities to embrace vaccination fully and bring their children forward.