Every dollar we raise will be matched 2:1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Please consider supporting this cause and eradicating the disease forever.

Once endemic in more than 100 countries, polio today has a foothold in just two: Afghanistan and Pakistan. At its peak, the infectious disease killed or paralyzed hundreds of thousands of people annually, but breakthroughs in vaccines and public health programs have made remarkable progress. A 2014 decision by the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it an international health emergency sought to buttress the global response, and the designation remains in place as health agencies work to eradicate the disease.

However, there are challenges to vaccinating the world’s remaining unprotected children: some communities strongly oppose vaccination efforts, and polio workers have come under attack by militants. The disease’s reemergence in Malawi in 2021, just a year after Africa was declared polio-free, prompted a regional immunization campaign. Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine has sparked fears of polio’s return there, as the Russian invasion has halted a vaccination campaign launched in response to an outbreak. (Source: Claire Felter and Danielle Renwick writing on CFR.org)

There have been only two wild-polio cases this year. We're close. So Close.....

Please join us in supporting Rotary's efforts to End Polio Now. As one of Rotary's more than 35,000 Clubs, internationally, we unequivocally support our organisation's No 1 philanthropic goal. More than this, with the Covid experience still front of mind, we know that vaccines work. Any contribution toward this cause will be most welcome. Thank you.