From Sam Kevan, District Governor:
Polio Eradication
As we celebrate World Polio Day on October 24 this month, I would like to again emphasize the importance of the contributions we make to totally eradicate polio.
As we celebrate World Polio Day on October 24 this month, I would like to again emphasize the importance of the contributions we make to totally eradicate polio.
From 350,000 cases of wild polio virus worldwide in 1985 when Rotary began our polio eradication program to only 6 cases in 2021, it is clear we have already made a significant impact. However recent developments have shown us that the battle for total eradication is not over. As long There is a small region in Pakistan where wild polio virus type 1 (WPV1) cases have spread locally and into Africa resulting in a year-to-date total of 27 such cases for 2022.
In addition, the world has seen the spread of the circulating vaccine-derived polio virus type 2 (cVDPV2) this year. Year-to-date in 2022 there have been 337 of these cases globally with the highest numbers coming from the countries of Yemen and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is the same type of polio virus that has recently been discovered in London and the cause of the recent case in New York state in an unvaccinated individual.
So fellow Rotarians, it is so important to continue our support of polio eradication. We need to continue Rotary International’s pledge of $50 million this Rotary year in order to obtain the 2-1 matching contribution from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. To honor this year’s World Polio Day, on October 24, I am asking all Rotary clubs in District 5470 to encourage all members to contribute to Polio Plus and consider a community fundraising event for polio eradication.
Also, this would be a great time for Rotarians to step up and become Polio Plus Society members. This requires a commitment of $100 per year or a mere $9-$10/month which can be made at myrotary.org/donate and continued until the World Health Organization can declare the world Polio free.