Today is World Polio Day!

24th October is when Rotary and it's supporters around the world mark the progress made to eradicate polio and reaffirm Rotary's global commitment made all the way back in 1985.
In 2023, wild poliovirus is weaker than it has ever been before - a testament to Rotary's efforts over the years that have seen 2.5 billion children immunised against the virus in 122 countries.
However, there is still more to be done. Even though polio only remains endemic in 2 countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan, there are still 5 countries who are at the greatest risk of polio returning and another 26 who could potentially experience re-infection.
But if decades of service have taught us anything, it's that Rotarians around the world will always be ready to step up to a challenge.
World Polio Day not only gives Rotary a chance to celebrate the amazing work the organisation has done as part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, but it also allows the Rotary clubs the opportunity to connect with their local community and let them know what they can do to help make a polio-free world a reality.  

Polio Is Fighting For Its Very Survival

The wild poliovirus is being squeezed on an unprecedented global scale, according to World Health Organization expert, Aidan O’Leary.
Speaking at the Action Summit in Manchester, the Director for Polio at the Geneva-based agency insisted that while the virus remains prevalent in just Afghanistan and Pakistan, thanks to vigorous vaccination programmes in both countries, polio was being contained to just seven cases in small, specific regions.
“As we stand today, the virus has been squeezed into as tight an area as ever before,” he revealed. “The virus is fighting for its very survival.”
You can read more from Aidan's address at the Manchester Summit in the latest edition of Rotary magazine.

Read here

WATCH RI President Gordon McInally's World Polio Day message.

Gordon McInally message

Rotary International President Gordon McInally has recorded a special message for World Polio Day addressing the whole Rotary family.

Gordon says: "World Polio Day on 24th October is our opportunity to celebrate our progress towards polio eradication and moving people to act so we can reach the finish line, eliminating forever the emotional burden children and parents face in dealing with this devastating disease."
You can watch Gordon's message and download the full video here.

New fundraising partnership set to raise hundreds of millions towards eradicating polio

The European Commission (EC), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) have recently announced a huge new financial partnership that is focussed on eradicating polio.
A €1.1 billion financing package was announced to go towards polio eradication efforts and strengthening healthcare systems, with €500 million in payments going to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative – namely it's implementing partners, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
The funding is set to cover polio vaccinations for nearly 370 million children annually as well as the delivery of vital health services to children alongside polio campaigns.

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