Welcome to another issue of our bulletin! Find out who our upcoming speakers are, what we covered during the last Zoom meeting, and learn more about our Rotary World.
Mark Your Calendars
November's Club Zoom Meeting is a must to attend!
Our speaker is D6950's Governor Mark Middleton.
He will be talking about Rotary and District events. Come equipped with attention and enthusiasm.
Topic: D6950 Governor Mark Middleton
Time: Nov 3, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
One new Wild Polio paralysis case was reported this week. We are now 5
weeks since the most recent report of a child being paralyzed by the Wild Polio Virus in Afghanistan.
We Can See The Finish Line to Global Polio Eradication!
Please donate to Rotary's Polio Fund this month. Your donation will be matched $2 to your $1 by The Gates Foundation.
WHO appoints Chris Wolff as Director of Polio Eradication
Experienced global health leader to guide the program through its final chapter
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) has appointed Mr Chris Wolff as Director of Polio Eradication at WHO, bringing one of the program's most experienced operational and strategic leaders back to the Organization at a pivotal moment for global eradication efforts. The WHO polio eradication director also serves as the Chair of the Strategy Committee for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. With more than two decades of experience across polio eradication, immunization and global health, Chris has helped shape some of the program's most significant achievements - from supporting India's successful interruption of wild poliovirus transmission and leading WHO's global polio outbreak response and surveillance teams, to most recently advancing routine immunization, innovation and health systems strengthening at the Gates Foundation. Starting his new position, Chris emphasized that the program's greatest strength remains its partnership. "One of the greatest privileges of this role is the opportunity to work alongside governments, WHO colleagues, UNICEF, CDC, the Gates Foundation, Gavi, donors and our extraordinary friends at Rotary International, whose commitment has inspired this effort for decades. Above all, I look forward to supporting the frontline health workers and national program teams. They are the true heroes of polio eradication."
Let's Advocate, Donate & Educate to END POLIO NOW & FOREVER!
2023 Circulating Variant Polio Cases 524 in 23 Countries
New Polio Cases & Samples reported this week
· Afghanistan : one WPV1-positive environmental sample
· Pakistan : one WPV1 case and eight WPV1-positive environmental samples
· Central African Republic (CAR): one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
· DR Congo : six cVDPV2 cases
· South Sudan : five cVDPV1 cases and one cVDPV2 case
Quote of the Day - "Life is a series of collisions with the future; it is not the sum if what we have been, but what we yearn to be." - Jose Ortega y Gasset (1883 - 1955) Spanish Philosopher
The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries
Pakistan One new Wild Polio case reported this week. Five Wild Polio cases reported in 2026. Thirty-one Wild Polio cases reported in 2025. Seventy-four Wild Polio cases reported in 2024.Six Wild Polio Cases reported in 2023. The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 8/7/26. No new WPV1 Environmental Samples and no cVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Pakistan.
Afghanistan No new Wild Polio cases reported this week. Thirty-five Wild Polio cases reported in 2026. Twenty One Wild Polio cases reported in 2025. Twenty-five Wild Polio cases reported in 2024. Six Wild Polio Cases reported in 2023. The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 8/31/26. No new WPV1 Environmental Samples and no cVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.
The International PolioPlus Committee is deeply disappointed with the polio situation in Afghanistan and the increasing number of children and environmental samples testing positive for the wild poliovirus. Rotary is one of the most important donors to polio eradication efforts in Afghanistan with PolioPlus grants accounting for an increasing portion of the budgets for both WHO and UNICEF. In FY26, Rotary provided US$41.6 million in grant funding for Afghanistan. These funds vaccinated children, strengthened surveillance, supported frontline workers and engaged communities, but money alone will not overcome challenges such as access, insecurity, missed children and misinformation.
We resolve to continue working with our partners to reverse the current situation and reach more children with the polio vaccine to protect them from this terrible disease. Over the years, we have faced many challenges and overcame them. We will do so again.
On the positive side, we are encouraged by the progress in Pakistan. We recognize the extraordinary commitment of the government, Rotarians, and our partners all working together on behalf of children in that country. We are an equally important donor in Pakistan and provided US$58.6 million in grant funding in FY26 to fund activities similar to Afghanistan.
We are very close to achieving our goal of a polio-free world and our leadership and steadfast commitment is more important than ever.
Mike McGovern, Polio Oversight Board Chair, Carol Pandak, Director PolioPlus
Advocate, Donate & Educate to END POLIO NOW & FOREVER!
Over 3 billion Children Immunized
Over $3 Billion raised by Rotary for Polio Eradication
21,000,000 Children Saved from the Paralysis of Polio
1.6 million lives saved thanks to the Polio Vaccines Together, We End Polio!
Terry Ziegler, Polio Update Newsletter Editor
Rotary Region 36 END POLIO NOW Coordinator 2024-27
Thank you so much to you and the Rotary E-Club for your generous $250 commitment to the Nepal project. We are very grateful for your club’s support.
Safe Births Rapid Response Project – Nepal
This Rotary Global Grant project will strengthen maternal and newborn care in central Nepal through three complementary efforts: a dedicated ambulance for emergency obstetric and neonatal referrals; expanded Helping Babies Breathe and Helping Mothers Survive training for healthcare providers; and enhanced neonatal intensive care services at Scheer Memorial Adventist Hospital. Together, these efforts are designed to improve timely access to life-saving care for mothers and newborns in Kavrepalanchok District and surrounding communities.
Thank you again for your partnership and for helping share this important project with your club members.
Best,
Ruth
Ruth Bowling, MHA, CIC
AdventHealth
Development Officer | Foundation
Safe Births, Rapid Response: Strengthening Maternal Care in Nepal
Global Grant GG 2579596
The hospital has two ambulances, acquired in 2003 and
2004 through a Rotary grant. The cost of fuel, repair and
maintenance has made it impractical to continue using
them as primary transport, particularly for critically ill
patients, as they are subject to frequent breakdowns.
Due to its history of compassionate care to all patients
regardless of their ability to pay, SMAH has become a
referral center from other clinics and hospitals. The benefit
of having a new 4-wheel drive ambulance is the ability to
reliably reach patients in the mountainous area, driving on
unpaved roads. The entire community will benefit from this
ambulance.
Global Grant Project
GG2579596
Safe Births, Rapid
Response: Strengthening
Maternal Care in Nepal
USD $150,000
Nepal has a high maternal and neonatal mortality rate, as many
low-income women deliver their babies at home. Through their
Helping Mothers and Babies Survive (HMBS) program the
hospital trains healthcare workers and birth attendants deliver
mother and baby safely in home or low-resource settings. Using
birthing simulators, they build hands-on competency in master
coordinators and trainers – who then train others at small
healthcare centers, including midwives, to save mothers and
babies.
Helping Mothers and Babies Survive (HMBS)
Safe Births, Rapid Response: Strengthening Maternal Care in Nepal
Global Grant GG 2579596
Premature and critically ill newborns often require specialized
monitoring and temperature-controlled care that is not readily available
in rural Nepal. New NICU equipment will help Scheer Memorial
Adventist Hospital provide safer, more reliable care for vulnerable
infants and reduce preventable newborn deaths. These devices allow
healthcare teams to closely monitor fragile newborns, maintain safe
body temperature, and provide lifesaving care during the critical first hours of life.
The Rotary Foundation begins supporting club and district projects with matching grants, the first regular program to fund these service efforts.
Rotarygrantsfrom The Rotary Foundation fund district and global projects, scholarships, and training with lasting community impact.
The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment and the alleviation of poverty. The Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotary members and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. This support is essential to make possible projects, funded with Foundation grants, that bring sustainable improvement to communities in need. Using Rotary Foundation grants, Rotary's 35,000 clubs across the globe develop and carry out sustainable projects that promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, sustain mothers and children, improve education, and strengthen local economies.
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