Rotary’s global campaign to eliminate Polio has been running since 1985 and the disease has now been eliminated in all but three countries Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.

The risk to residents, particularly children in countries including Australia, continues while there is anywhere in the world where immunisation is opposed or otherwise impeded and the disease still occurs.

Poliomyelitis (polio) is a paralyzing and potentially fatal disease that still threatens individuals in parts of the world. 

The polio virus invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. It can strike at any age but mainly affects children under five. 

Polio is incurable, but completely vaccine-preventable.

In 1985, Rotary launched its PolioPlus program, the first initiative to tackle global polio eradication through the mass vaccination of children. 

Rotary has contributed more than $1.6 billion and countless volunteer hours to immunize more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. In addition, Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by donor governments to contribute more than $7.2 billion to the effort. 

Local donors are requested to purchase a token from the Rotary street stall this Friday, March 31, and place it on the footpath in Main Street.

The total raised will be forwarded to Rotary International to continue the campaign to completely eliminate Polio.

For more information visit https://my.rotary.org

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