World Polio Day is observed on October 24 every year to raise awareness for Polio Vaccination and Eradication of Polio.
The World Polio Day was established by Rotary International over a decade ago to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk who led the first team to develop vaccinationagain Poliomyelitis.
Rotary begins its war against Polio on September 29, 1979 at Makati, Philippines. The event in Manila was arranged by Rotarians & Ministry of Health of Philippines. RI President James l Bomar put the first drops of Polio vaccine into a child’s mouth. That was the first 3H (Health, Hunger & Humanity) Programme of Rotary. The joint venture between Ministry of Health of Philippines & Rotary International immunize about 6 million children at a cost of about $7, 60,000,
The success story of the project led Rotary International to adopt Polio Eradication as its top priority. Rotary officially launched Polio Plus Programme in 1985 and became founder of Global Polio Eradication initiative in 1988 along with World Health Organization. Rotary spends more than 2.20 Billion Dollars and countless volunteer hours to protect children’s of more than 122 countries.
This week global leaders confirmed US$ 2.60 billion in funding towards the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s (GPEI) 2022-2026 Strategy to end polio. We can all be proud of Rotary, which pledges $150 million, the largest amount after the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Ian Riseley, the Chairman of our Rotary Foundation did a great job in Berlin.
Rotary raises over $50 Million per year, with every dollar matched with two dollar from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These funds help to provide much needed operational support, medical personnel and laboratory equipment, and support the crucial work of engaging committee leaders and parents to build trust in vaccines.
Rotary’s continuous advocacy and efforts resulted as only two countries are still Polio Endemic. Rotary have successfully eradicate Polio cases by 99.9%. Rotary is so close but Rotary can’t stop until a single Polio case exists. No child is safe until a single case exists anywhere in the world. If Rotary stop here within a span of 10 years 200,000 children will be paralized yearly.
So Rotary have to be more careful, more committed and more focused. The celebration of World Polio Day doesn’t mean that Rotarians are celebrating their victory. They are celebrating the day to convey our gratitude and thanks towards thousands of health workers who are the instrumental of this success.
More than 1 million Rotary members have donated their time and personal resources to end polio. Every year, hundreds of Rotary members work side by side with health workers to vaccinate children in polio-affected countries. Rotary members work with UNICEF and other partners to prepare and distribute mass communication tools to reach people in areas isolated by conflict, geography or poverty. Rotary members also recruit fellow volunteers, assist with transporting the vaccine, and provide other logistical support.
Their dedication, vigilance and commitments should be celebrated every day, but this day is especially dedicated to them. The celebration of the day is to convey our thanks to the ministry of countries who stand beside us and assist us to eradicate polio. This celebration is for those who have volunteer countless hours and obviously for those who have support the polio foundation
Rotary club of Dimapur also started Polio Immunization Programme since 1979 as NGO. Since then the Immunization Programme is being continued by Rotary Club of Dimapur.
Let we all come together to make world a better and safe place for our children, until we do so, every child is at risk.
Article submitted by Rtn Manish Jain, President, Rotary Club of Dimapur; Rtn Nitin Agarwal, Club Polio Committee Chair; Rtn Pradip Jain Sr, Club Foundation Chair; Rtn R.S. Panesar, NE India Coordinator for WGMEAL to End Polio Now.
