BEL Rotary Contiues the Fight Against Polio

Rotarians around the world along with their partners (including the World Health Organization) have decreased the incidence of polio by more than 99 percent since the Global Eradication Initiative was launched in 1988.  At that time polio infected about 350,000 children a year.  Now the wild poliovirus is only endemic in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.   Rotarians are determined to finish the job they began 26 years ago.  The goal is to eradicate polio by the year 2018.

On March 28^th and 29th, members of the BEL Rotary Club sold Purple Pinkies (paper hands with the pinkie finger dyed purple) at the Foodland in Lakefield and Bowles Valumart in Bridgenorth as part of their annual “Purple Pinkie” campaign. 

Although Canada has been polio free for years, there are many in our community who remember the effects of this disease.  One community member shared the story of a friend who contracted the disease, was hospitalized and didn’t return home.  Another had a friend who spent years in an iron lung.

Thank you to our wonderful community for your support of this initiative.  Thanks to your generosity more than $2000. will be contributed to the fight against polio.  At the cost of approximately 60 cents per vaccine, approximately 3500 children will be immunized!  Thank you for making our world a better place!