October 24, 2013 - World Polio Day
Every year on October 24, people around the world shine a
spotlight on the importance of global eradication.
We are indeed “this close!” The United States has been polio free for many years, but this evil crippling disease doesn't stop coming back at us, even though we have diminished polio cases in the three endemic countries (Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan) by 40% this year. It continues to spread back into countries that have been polio-free for years! The number of polio cases for this year already exceeds the number of cases from 2012. This includes cases in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and most recently in the Sudan.
Rotary's commitment is to protect EVERY CHILD from this crippling disease. We can be extremely proud as Rotarians to state that by the time the world is certified polio-free, Rotary's contributions to the global polio eradication effort will exceed $1.2 Billion. In addition, millions of dollars of 'in-kind' and personal contributions have been made by and through local Rotary clubs and districts for polio eradication activities. More than one million Rotarians worldwide have contributed toward the success of the polio eradication effort to date.
The 24th of October has been chosen to commemorate the month in which Dr. Jonas Salk was born. Salk was the leader of the team that invented the first polio vaccine in 1955. It was the development of this vaccine, and its successor oral polio vaccine, that enabled the world to embark on an ambitious journey – the eradication of polio.
The fight to end polio is led by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which includes Rotary International, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and governments of the world, with the support of many others around the globe.
So what can you do to join us this year in the End Game to achieve our Number One Priority? Donate today at www.Rotary.org.
Imagine the joy and pride when we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our eradication partners in 2018 and can say to the world's children, “You never have to be afraid of polio again! It's gone!”