WHO South-East Asia Region celebrates 10 years certified polio-free
27 March marked 10 years since the World Health Organization certified the South-East Asia Region free of wild poliovirus. This milestone would not be possible without the tireless efforts of health workers, national and local leaders, our partners, and, of course, Rotary members all around the world. Thank you!
In honor of this anniversary, Global Citizen interviewed Deepak Kapur, chair of the National PolioPlus Committee in India. Jayant Kulkarni, a past governor of District 3141 (India), wrote an article about Rotary’s role in polio eradication in India. Hamid Jafari, director of polio eradication for the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, also wrote a reflection on his time working in India leading up to the eradication of wild polio there.
Read the piece featuring Deepak Kapur
Read Jayant Kulkarni’s article
Read Hamid Jafari’s reflection
Polio mapping goes high tech
Did you know that one of the most powerful new tools for stopping polio outbreaks fits in your pocket? Vaccinators in Republic of the Congo use geospatial tracking through a mobile app to ensure that no child is missed by their outbreak-response vaccination campaigns.
Read about polio mapping
Rotary, UNICEF recognize a milestone in our partnership
On 31 January, Rotary and UNICEF celebrated a momentous milestone: Rotary’s cumulative support to UNICEF reached US$1 billion. Our partnership has helped reduce polio cases by 99.9% since 1988, and we remain committed to our continued efforts to make the dream of a polio-free world into a reality.
Watch UNICEF’s thank-you video
Watch UNICEF Afghanistan’s thank-you video
Join us in Singapore!
If you’re attending the 2024 Rotary International Convention, make sure to visit our End Polio Now booth and attend our breakout session, “Together, We End Polio,” on Tuesday, 28 May, 15:30-16:30. You can get the latest updates on our polio eradication efforts, learn how Rotary members in polio-affected countries are making an impact, and find out what you can do to help achieve Rotary’s goal of a polio-free world.
Actions you can take to support #EndPolio
Use our new radio ad, “Vaccinating Every Child Under Five,” in your club’s promotional campaigns. The ad publicizes the effectiveness of vaccines as well as the steadfast work to eradicate polio by Rotary and our partners. The ad is available in a 30-second version and a 60-second version in the Brand Center.
Start planning your 2024 World Polio Day event. Use the event guide on the Brand Center to get guidance on hosting a successful event.
Forward this message to your fellow members. Encourage them to subscribe to the End Polio Now newsletter, and thank those who already have. Members can subscribe by signing into My Rotary and choosing MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS on the Newsletters page.
Rotary in the news
ABC News shared a segment, produced in collaboration with Rotary, to tell the story of Tuskegee University’s role in helping stop polio.
Carol Pandak, director of PolioPlus, was interviewed for a story by the BBC on how wastewater surveillance helps monitor disease outbreaks.
Stella Anyangwe, an End Polio Now coordinator, was profiled by The Standard, a Kenyan media outlet, for her decades of work fighting polio.
UNICEF USA published an article on the Forbes website that highlights Rotary’s role in polio eradication.
Resources for polio awareness and fundraising
End Polio Now Resource Center
Rotary Brand Center Polio resources
Global Polio Eradication Initiative website
Raise for Rotary polio fundraising
© Rotary International
One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60201-3698, USA
My Charity of Choice
FRIDAY NIGHT RAFFLES ARE STILL A HUGE SUCCESS AT THE CROWN HOTEL.
