Recent Milestones

In January 2014, we celebrated one of the world's greatest achievements in global health: India being certified as polio-free. India was once considered the hardest place on earth to stop polio. Now, India's success proves polio can be stopped in even the most challenging conditions.

In September 2015, Nigeria - Africa's last polio-endemic country - was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization.

The entire continent of Africa has not reported a polio case since August 11, 2014.


History

Since the global initiative began more than 30 years ago, Rotary and its partners have reduced polio cases by 99.9% percent worldwide.

Rotary's involvement started with a successful pilot project to immunize children in the Philippines in 1979 and became Rotary International's official program in 1985.

In addition to fundraising and advocacy efforts, many Rotary members join health workers in polio-affected countries to immunize children against polio.

Rotary members around the world advocate to ensure governments, the private sector and the general public are aware of the historic opportunity to eradicate polio and encourage them provide the necessary financial and political support.

Through the "End Polio Now: Make History Today" campaign, every dollar Rotary contributes to polio eradication (up to US$35 million/year through 2018) will be matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Canadians have a further matching of 2-to-1 by the Government of Canada.

Rotary has contributed more than US$1.4 billion dollars and committed countless volunteer hours to fight the disease.

As the volunteer arm of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, polio eradication is Rotary's top philanthropic goal. Rotarians were the catalyst to the effort.

Rotary's chief role is fundraising, advocacy, awareness raising and mobilizing volunteers.

Key Points

Polio will be only the second human disease ever eradicated (after smallpox).

No child anywhere in the world will have to suffer from a disease which has no cure, but is completely preventable.

Polio efforts are reaching previously inaccessible children, which opens the door to them benefiting from other global health and development resources.

The infrastructure created by the polio program - from the vast surveillance and laboratory networks, to the hundreds of thousands of local health workers - are already being used to address other health challenges and diseases.

Billions of dollars will be saved every year after polio is eradicated as inoculations will no longer be necessary, and the reduction of the medical costs and the economic benefits of children growing up free from polio

What You Can Do

Share your voice by raising awareness that we are "This Close" to ending polio.

Encourage your government to support polio eradication.

Educate yourself about this important issue and share the knowledge with your networks. By using your voice, you can help us get one step closer to a polio-free world.

Spread the word to your local newspaper and television programs, particularly special health and philanthropy segments.

Write a letter to the editor and comment after a relevant story is published online.

Share your voice and share your support for polio eradication with your network.

Resources

Take part in World Polio Day Livestream event from New York at 3:30 pm Pacific on October 23, 2015: 

Visit these websites for updates and information:

www.rotary.org

www.endpolionow.org

www.globalpolioinitiative.org