October 24 - World Polio Day. Across the Rotary International constellation of clubs worldwide, this day stands as one of the most auspicious and determined. It's a day for every Rotarian to recommit to the monumental task at hand… to eradicate the wild polio virus from the planet! Every year on this day, Rotarians around the world receive updates on the status of Polio Plus efforts and get inspired to close the 1% gap to total eradication.
Rotary embraced the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988. Prior to the End Polio initiative over 350,000 children were paralyzed by polio each year. In the subsequent 35 years more than 2.5 billion children have been vaccinated against polio, a truly remarkable achievement! One not possible without key organizations working together. Rotary is one of six core partners that make up the GPEI; the others include the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Nick shared this short video during Friday's presentation and it's worth watching again. 122 countries are currently certified Polio Free. We are so close and this is probably one of the hardest times we have experienced in this effort. Wild polio virus thrives in unsanitary conditions and widens its reach through misunderstanding, fear, and war.
Two countries - Afghanistan and Pakistan - still experience the ravages of the polio virus, but vaccinating vulnerable children is hampered by waring governments. And women, who are the most effective messengers of health, are being silenced and restricted in those same countries. With the withdraw of financial support for the World Health Organization from the US government, the financial burden has become even greater. And suspicion of vaccines has only exacerbated the the tenuous status of “Polio Free.”
So now is the time to speak out and take action. Share Rotary's story. Share the facts about the vaccine's effectiveness. Talk about the importance of saving the lives of children across the world. Do not be silent. Share the facts about polio.
Also please donate money. For every dollar that Rotarians raise in End Polio Now, the Gates Foundation will match it 2-to-1 up to $50 million. That turns $1 into $3. It turns $100 into $300. It turns $1000 into $3000… and $50 million into $150 million! This is an enviable return on your investment; better than any other investment instrument!
So what are you waiting for? Ask Charlene to add a Polio Plus donate to your bill. Or contribute directly to Polio Plus via MyRotary.org.
Everyone will tell you that the last efforts to achieving an audacious goal are the hardest. It's true. But TOGETHER we can end polio.