Rotary Club marks World Polio Day
The Rotary Club of Grahamstown Sunset is holding their annual Gin Tasting event on November 5 in aid of Polio Plus. Monday October 24 was World Polio Day.
While we are still able to celebrate the fact that Rotary International and its partners have reduced the cases of polio by 99% since 1988, there is raised concern that the battle to eradicate the disease has suffered a setback.
The discovery of the polio virus in wastewater systems in London, New York and Jerusalem has raised the alarm.
Previously, we were able to claim there were only two countries in the world that still have cases of polio Afghanistan and Pakistan but vigilance is required to make sure the virus doesn’t begin to spread again.
Smallpox is the only human disease ever eradicated, and Rotary International is committed to making sure polio is the second.
Global vaccination drives since 1988 have seen the prevalence of the disease shrink to almost zero, but still there are incidences of polio in areas of the world beset by war and poverty.
No child should suffer from this vaccinepreventable disease which causes paralysis and lifelong suffering.
Rotary Clubs around the world contribute to the fight to end polio by fundraising for the Polio Plus campaign, a global programme of vaccination matched 2-to-1 with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which triples all donations made by Rotary.
President of the Rotary Club of Grahamstown Sunset, Robyn Cooper, said, “We must contribute to the global fight to #endpolio.
“We will be holding our annual Gin Tasting, and ask locals to join us in raising funds for this important cause. It is a fun way of being part of this global fight to end polio.”
Rotary members have contributed nearly $890m (R16bn) toward polio eradication efforts in the African region.
The funds have allowed Rotary to issue Polio Plus grants to fund polio surveillance, transportation, awareness campaigns, and national immunisation days.
To eradicate polio, multiple high-quality immunisation campaigns must continue to be given priority.
For tickets to the PolioPlus Gin Tasting event, contact Kesentri Govender on 083-680-6726.
Visit endpolio.org to learn more about Rotary and the fight to eradicate polio.