World Polio Day is October 24, 2021Does your club have a plan to celebrate World Polio Day on October 24? What will you do to highlight this important day - a watch party, a speaker at your weekly meeting, or an informational booth in the community? Watch your email for ideas on how you and your club can help celebrate World Polio Day 2021 and resources that will help to make the celebration a reality.
As important as it is to plan your club's event, it is also important to try to promote the event among your club members and the local community. We want everyone to understand Rotary’s commitment to end polio and that we are so close to eradicating polio from our planet. Please plan something to help celebrate the day and share that with us.
Twenty Clubs from District 5610 that submit the best proposals and register for World Polio Day will each win 10 Foundation Raffle tickets (a $100 value), to share with their Club members.
To get more information and register go to www.endpolio.org/
The Foundation Raffle is held each spring at PETS this year in April in Mitchell SD. You DO NOT have to be present to win.
TAKE ACTION ERADICATE A DISEASE FOREVER"
Since Rotary first took on the elimination of polio 36 years ago we have saved 17 million people from a life of paralysis. We have decreased the number of children having endemic (wild) virus polio paralysis per year from 385,000 children to only 2 children this year. There was 1 case each in Pakistan and in Afghanistan. There is still a problem with the vaccine derived polio paralysis in many African countries where routine vaccines have not been given, (usually because of war). Our progress could certainly be delayed in Afghanistan. But this year the incidence of cases of vaccine derived polio paralysis has also been cut by two thirds. In addition we now have a new vaccine for derived polio paralysis that should continue to cut these cases drastically. Finally I see "light at the end of the tunnel" and I believe polio will soon be eradicated from the world forever.
I congratulate every member, Club and our wonderful District for donating almost a half million dollars to this effort and making eradication imminent. This year, District 5610 gave $55 per member to Polio Plus, a new high. You kept going when the going got awfully tough and failure seemed more than likely. I also thank Rotary International and our great partners; the UN, the US CDC and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for doing an unbelievable job and not giving up years ago.
So I want every Rotarian and Club to broadcast it to everyone in the world that Rotary has set a new precedent in the history of the world. We will soon end polio and the millions of deaths and the millions of lives ruined with awful, life long unbelievable pain and suffering. We are going to "ERADICATE A DISEASE (POLIO) FOREVER.
THANKS TO EVERY ROTARIAN AND ROTORACTER IN OUR DISTRICT FOR WONDERFUL WORK.
Willis Sutliff, District District 5610 Polio Plus Chairperson
Click Here for additional resource materials: World Polio Day Event Planning