ASSINIBOIA - Rotary members in Assiniboia will take action on World Polio Day (Oct. 24) to raise awareness, funds, and support to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today.
The Rotary Club of Assiniboia has been involved in providing support for this valuable project since its inception. The PolioPlus program has produced good results. The Rotary Clubs are very close to eradicating the disease completely.
The Club has approached the Town Council of Assiniboia to proclaim World Polio Day on Sunday, October 24.
When Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries every year. They have made great progress against the disease since then. Today, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 per cent, and just two countries continue to report cases of wild polio virus: Afghanistan and Pakistan. And we remain committed to the end.
With polio nearly eradicated, Rotary and its partners must sustain this progress and continue to reach every child with the polio vaccine. Without full funding and political commitment, this paralyzing disease could return to polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk. Rotary has committed to raising US$50 million each year to support global polio eradication efforts.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to match that two-to-one, for a total yearly contribution of $150 million.
Assiniboia Rotarian Bob Scott spoke of those days in his youth when there was a deadly fear of contracting the paralyzing disease from contact with infected water, food, or individuals.
His father contracted the disease after the Second World War and spent a lengthy time recuperating, during which his mother and he were prevented from having much contact with him.
While polio is non-existent in North America, it still causes illness in other countries. Rotary is determined to inoculate the children of those nations where the disease still poses a threat.
Rotary has contributed more than $2.2 billion to ending polio since 1985, including funds donated by the Assiniboia Club.
