Rotary International designated Tuesday, October 24 as World Polio Day. At that time Rotarians worldwide reached out to raise awareness, funds and support to end polio. A vaccine prevents this crippling and paralyzing disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today.
Schaumburg – Hoffman Rotarians Rosemary Justen and Cris Hinojosa (at left above) and Schaumburg AM Rotarian Brian Bieschke (at right) are pictured receiving Schaumburg’s proclamation recognizing Rotary International’s World Polio Day event from Schaumburg Village President Al Larson (center) during the village’s October 24 Board meeting which coincidentally took place on the same date. Click here to view the proclamation.
Rotary International co-hosted World Polio Day with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, Washington which was live streamed from that location and brought together more than 100,000 viewers from around the world.
Since Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative nearly 30 years ago, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent, from about 350,000 cases a year to just 37 cases in 2016.
Toward this end, Rotary members worldwide have contributed more than $1.7 billion to ending polio since 1985 including Schaumburg A.M. Rotarians.
The global Initiative includes the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and governments around the world.
To sustain this progress and protect all children from polio, Rotary has committed to raising $50 million per year over the next three years. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match Rotary’s commitment 2:1. Without full funding and political commitment, this paralyzing disease could return to previously polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk.