Rotarians and partners around the world maintain our dedication to END POLIO. Polio has been in the news a lot lately. And not in good ways:
- With war raging, a 10-month-old child contracted polio in Gaza. There had not been a polio case in 25 years. A two-round vaccination campaign began on September 1 during a humanitarian pause in the war. Rotary has committed US$500,000 to support this initiative through our continuing partnership with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
- As of Sept 18, 2024, Pakistan has reported 17 cases of polio this year. Enormous political issues complicate vaccination efforts.
- Reported on September 16, 2024: the Taliban in Afghanistan has suspended polio vaccination campaigns there. The World Health Organization has confirmed 18 polio cases in Afghanistan this year (up from 6 cases in 2023).
Rotary, together with the Global Polio Eradication Effort, will not stop until this crippling and sometimes deadly disease is eliminated. Right now, we really need your donations.
EVERY dollar donated to PolioPlus is generously matched 2:1 by the Gates Foundation.
The PolioPlus Society was founded right here in District 5110 in 2012-13 by Harriet Schloer of the Rotary Club of Bend High Desert. PolioPlus Society members commit to donating $100/year (or more) until polio is eradicated from the world. As of today, our District 5110 has 694 PolioPlus Society Members. Will you join us?
Joining is simple: complete this simple one-page form and return it to Jane Falls, jafalls@comcast.net, District PolioPlus Chair.
Then make it official by going to MyRotary.org, sign in, click Donate, select POLIO, choose the amount, frequency, and method of payment.