Rotary continues its efforts to raise polio awareness, support ending disease

The Siloam Springs Rotary Club members on Oct. 24 will be among millions reaching out on World Polio Day to raise awareness and support to end polio — a vaccine preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today.

Since Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative nearly 30 years ago, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent from about 350,000 cases a year to just 37 cases in 2016. To sustain this progress and protect all children from polio, Rotary has committed to raising $50 million per year over the next three years in support of global polio eradication efforts. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match Rotary’s commitment two to one.

Siloam Springs Rotary Club has contributed more than $37,000 to date towards Global Polio Eradication. Rotary has contributed more than $1.7 billion to ending polio since 1985.

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. Visit endpolio.org for more about Rotary and its efforts to eradicate polio.