On Oct. 24—World Polio Day—Rotary International celebrates the progress made in the global fight against polio, and reminds the world that polio anywhere is a threat to children everywhere.
Rotary International has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. The goal of ridding the world of the disease is closer than ever.
Through founding the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 percent since the first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979. Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort.
Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.
Rotarians ask everyone to help finish the job and end polio for good to ensure that this paralyzing disease does not return to polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk. From encouraging vaccine acceptance, to sharing factual vaccination information, to calling on elected officials to fund polio eradication, there are so many ways to support polio eradication efforts and do a part to prevent polio outbreaks in local communities and continue the march toward global eradication.
If it is possible to finish the job and end polio, it will be only the second human disease ever to be eradicated. The time for action is now— visit www.endpolio.org to learn more about how to get your community or group involved.
