On October 24, World Polio Day, the Rotary Club of Cedaredge joins Rotary International in raising awareness of the global effort to eradicate polio. Although cases have declined by 99.9% since 1988, the disease remains a threat in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Continued vaccination, public awareness, and financial support are essential to achieving a polio-free world.
World Polio Day: Why the Fight Against Polio Matters
Polio is a preventable disease that can cause permanent paralysis and even death. It can affect people of any age, but children under five are particularly vulnerable.
World Polio Day provides an opportunity to recognize the progress made toward eradicating this disease and to remind communities around the world that the mission is not yet complete.
The Rotary Club of Cedaredge is supporting this campaign by sharing information through local newspapers, Facebook, and the club’s website, helping keep the importance of ending polio in the public eye.
Rotary’s Global Effort to End Polio
For more than 35 years, Rotary and its partners have led the global effort to eradicate polio. Rotary’s PolioPlus program pioneered large-scale efforts to vaccinate children and protect communities against the disease.
The results have been extraordinary:
- 99.9% reduction in polio cases since 1988.
- More than $3 billion contributed by Rotary members, alongside countless volunteer hours.
- More than 3 billion children protected in 122 countries through Rotary’s efforts.
When the global eradication initiative began in 1988, 125 countries reported approximately 350,000 polio cases. Today, Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries reporting cases of wild poliovirus.
However, challenges remain, including political insecurity, highly mobile populations, difficult terrain, vaccine refusal, and misinformation. Sustained international cooperation is necessary to overcome these barriers.
Every Contribution Counts
Rotary is committed to raising US$50 million annually to support polio eradication. The Gates Foundation has pledged to match Rotary’s contribution two to one, bringing the combined annual commitment to US$150 million.