By Amy Edwards | Senior Coordinator, PolioPlus Program
More than one million Rotary members have volunteered their time and resources to help end polio. In September, for the first time, a group of Rotary staff members joined volunteers and health workers in the field to participate in Subnational Immunization Days in India. Six staff members were selected to travel to India and participate in the immunization activites, which were expected to reach 172 million children with the polio vaccine. The participants were also able to visit St. Stephens hospital, a Rotary-funded facility that helps provide medical services for polio survivors. The staff members raised funds in advance of their trip and spent one week helping to vaccinate children and raise awareness about polio by sharing their experiences on their social media networks.
On 19 November, a team of Rotary staff members will also join Rotary senior leaders, members from Arizona and around the world to cycle up to 104 miles in El Tour de Tucson to raise funds for polio eradication. This is the 4th year staff have joined in the event, dedicating hours outside work for training and fundraising. Last year, Rotarians and staff raised over $13 million for the Ride to End Polio, part of El Tour de Tucson. They hope to make 2016 another record-breaking year. With just 26 polio cases reported so far this year in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria, we are closer than ever to reaching our goal. It will take a global effort to reach every last child and ensure no one ever suffers from polio again.
Want to learn more about polio? Rotary clubs and members around the world will celebrate World Polio Day on 24 October. Events are slated to take place in India, USA, Nigeria, UK, Pakistan, France and more. Health officials and Rotary’s polio ambassadors will also go to Atlanta, Georgia, USA, for Rotary’s flagship event, the first to be held at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It will be streamed live and then will be available for viewing anytime at endpolio.org.
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