October 24 is “WORLD POLIO DAY”
Submitted by
• PDG Keith Koke, District 6380 Polio Co Chair – keith@ciaccess.com or 519-352-7436
• Ginger Barrons, District 6380 Polio Co Chair – Gbarrons1@mi.rr.com or 248-348-5244
Submitted by
• PDG Keith Koke, District 6380 Polio Co Chair – keith@ciaccess.com or 519-352-7436
• Ginger Barrons, District 6380 Polio Co Chair – Gbarrons1@mi.rr.com or 248-348-5244
In the August Rotary International Polio Newsletter Rotary announced nearly $100 million in grants to support the global effort to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that once paralyzed hundreds of thousands of children each year.
Here some other highlights:
The announcement comes as Nigeria marks two years without any reported cases of wild poliovirus, following four reported cases in 2016.
“The fact that no new cases of wild poliovirus have been detected in Nigeria points to the improved surveillance and rapid response protocols Rotary and its Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners have established, particularly in insecure and inaccessible areas,” said Michael K. McGovern, chair of Rotary’s International PolioPlus Committee. “While this progress is promising, it’s time to redouble our efforts so we can continue to maintain the political and financial support necessary to end polio for good.”
While significant strides have been made against the paralyzing disease, wild poliovirus is still a threat in parts of the world, with 10 cases in Afghanistan and three cases in Pakistan this year so far. As long as a single child has polio, all children are at risk, which underscores the need for ongoing funding and political commitment to eradication.
Rotary has committed to raising $50 million a year to be matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, yielding $450 for polio eradication activities over a three-year period. Each club in our district is asked to contribute $1,500 for the next three years.
Many clubs in our District 6380 have an annual fundraiser. We as district co-chairs can help. One particular fundraiser is “Pizza For Polio.” All the information can be found on our district website. For more ideas you can also go to:
http://www.rotary6940.org/uploads/District_Purple%20Pinkie%20Project%20H andbook.pdf
http://www.rotary6940.org/uploads/District_Purple%20Pinkie%20Project%20H andbook.pdf
In addition, we would love to come to one of your club meetings and present a PowerPoint presentation on polio as your program that day. It will be a heartwarming story. Remember: As Rotarians, we are the conscience of polio eradication in the world and must stay active until the end.
“We are this close.”