
Since Rotary's first foray into eradicating Polio, the number of cases has fallen worldwide by 99.9%. This is an amazing feat given that there was an average of 350,000 cases annually. The only two endemic countries left are Pakistan and Afghanistan. There are occassional outbreaks elsewhere but these are derived from the vaccine.
While that may scare some, the vaccine derived Polio is extremely low and is far outweighed by the live saved and the disabilities that come from Polio for many survivors.
We can all help in the battle to rid the world of this insidious disease by ensuring that there is enough funding to continue the campaign of eradication. Today, Rotary is joined by the World Health Organisation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and UNICEF in this fight - and it is a fight.
Anyone can help by donating to their local Rotary Club with the funds to be designated to PolioPlus. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation match the funds raised by and through Rotary in a 2:1 grant.
Let's set out to achieve what Rotary and its partners have been working toward since the late 1980's - to provide a 'Gift to the Children of the World" - a world free of Polio.