World Polio Day, which is is commemorated on 24 October every year, is a time for Rotary members, public health advocates, and all who want a world free from polio to come together, recognise our progress in the fight to end polio, and talk about the actions we need to take in order to end polio for good.
Polio is a highly contagious disease caused by the polio virus. Although very rare, the virus can attack the parts of the brain that help you breathe, which can lead to death. Polio has no cure, but it can be prevented with vaccination.
Rotary is an international community that brings together leaders who step up to take on the world’s toughest challenges, locally and globally. The eradication of polio is one of our longest standing and most significant efforts. Along with our partners, we have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. Since 1988, we’ve seen a worldwide reduction in polio cases of 99.9 percent worldwide and we won’t stop until we end the disease for good.
Only two countries remain polio-endemic: Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have 6 and 3 reported Wild Poliovirus Cases in 2023 respectively.
The Rotary Club of Boronia actively supports the End Polio Now program, through both individual member and Club contributions. If you would like more information about World Polio Day or would like to make a contribution to ending Polio in the World, please visit the End Polio website.
October 2023
