Together with Councillor Keyes of Ward 5, there on behalf of Markham City Council and Mayor Scarpitti, members of the Rotary Clubs of Markham-Unionville and Markham Sunrise participated in a flag-raising ceremony to mark observance of World Polio Day. Councillor Keyes took the added measure of marking his left pinky finger with purple dye, a symbol which many familiar with polio vaccination efforts will recognize. Our thanks to Councillor Keyes for representing the City well.
In our history making era We promised the world a healthy, polio-free future...and we’re almost there, 99.9% to be exact. This World Polio Day, let’s make history and shrink that number to zero.
WHEREAS, Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem solvers in over 46,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographic areas; and
WHEREAS, the Rotary motto “Service Above Self” inspires members to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards, and promote good will and peace in the world; and
WHEREAS, Rotary in 1985 launched PolioPlus and spearheaded the Global Polio Eradication Initiative with the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF to immunize the children of the world against polio; and
WHEREAS, Polio cases have dropped by 99.9 percent since 1988, when there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries every year, and the world stands on the threshold of eradicating the disease; and
WHEREAS, To date, Rotary has contributed more than US$2.2 billion and countless volunteer hours to the protection of nearly three billion children in 122 countries; and
WHEREAS, Rotary is has committed to raising US$50 million per year for polio eradication. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to match that 2-to-1, for a commitment of US$150 million each year; and
WHEREAS, The global effort to eradicate polio has already saved more then $27 billion in health care costs since 1988 and expects to save $14 billion more by 2050; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Rotary has played a major role in decisions by donor governments to contribute $8 billion to the effort; and
WHEREAS, there are over 60 Rotary club members in the two Rotary clubs in Markham, Ontario, Canada sponsoring service projects to address such critical issues as poverty, health, hunger, illiteracy, and the environment in their local communities, and abroad.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of The City of Markham
DO HEREBY PROCLAIM October 24, 2024 as World Polio Day in Markham, Ontario, Canada, and encourage all citizens to join myself and Rotary International in the fight for a polio-free world.
Dated this 24th day of October, 2024 in the City of Markham, ON
Frank Scarpitti
Mayor
