Eradicating Polio Worldwide

Secretary and Past District Governor Bill MacKay shared a Rotary moment with the Club and spoke about how Rotary works with many local and international organizations and educational institutions to carry out worldwide humanitarian efforts such as polio eradication.  Rotary International is a leading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative along with World Health Organization, UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and donor governments.

 

The incidence of polio continues to shrink worldwide and the disease is now on the brink of being eradicated.  No cases caused by the wild polio virus have been reported in Africa, including Nigeria, for more than one year.  And polio cases have decreased in Pakistan by nearly 70% compared to a year ago.  Rotarians continue to generously donate their time and personal resources, immunizing children, donating and raising funds, mobilizing public support for vaccination and engaging governments in the cause.  Rotary is a leading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and by supporting the final push to eradicate polio, we can ensure that future generations of children will never have to suffer from this devastating disease.  Rotary has donated more than $688 million to fight polio in Africa, including over $207 million to Nigeria.  Rotarians have led the way in contributing their time, energy and personal resources in the drive to eradicate the disease.  The number of new polio cases in the world has dropped 99.9% since the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to fewer than 40 in June 2015 from 350,000 in 1988.

 

As Rotarians we should be proud of being part in making a difference around the world.