World Polio Day Oct 24

Polio is a potentially fatal, paralyzing disease that primarily affects children under five. It has no cure but is preventable through vaccination and can be eradicated.
- For over 35 years, Rotary’s PolioPlus program has helped lead global eradication efforts through fundraising, advocacy, volunteer mobilization, and mass vaccination.
- Since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative began in 1988, cases have fallen 99.9%; wild poliovirus remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in part because of conflicts in ideology and continued warfare in those countries make some of their more remote regions inaccessible.
- Rotary members have contributed over US$3 billion and helped protect more than 3 billion children across 122 countries.
- Major challenges include political insecurity, mobile populations, difficult terrain, vaccine refusal, misinformation, and reaching remote communities.
- Rotary commits US$50 million annually, matched 2-to-1 by the Gates Foundation, for a combined US$150 million yearly commitment.
- More than 1 million Rotary members have contributed time and money, working with partners such as UNICEF and receiving support from public figures.