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GOOD-BYE, POLIO: THANKS, ROTARY

 

Grand Bend Club helps turn each Community Donation Dollar into $6

The world is on the verge of eliminating one of the most dreaded diseases of the 20th century -- poliomyelitis. During the first half of the 20th century, polio crippled over half a million people every year. Even today, children in some developing countries continue to fall victim to the disease. But thanks in large part to Rotary International and to the 1.2 million Rotary members worldwide, the disease will soon be just a memory. In fact, there were less than 250 cases worldwide in 2012! 

Before celebrating this public health milestone, the spread of the poliovirus must be interrupted in the poorest and most populous regions of the world, and surveillance must continue for several years to be sure the virus is completely wiped out. This is no easy task. Only 3 countries have yet to stop the spread of polio – Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. (In 1988 there were 125 countries with polio) 

To date, Rotary has contributed more than US$1.2 billion to immunize more than 2 billion children against polio. But much more is needed. More than twenty five years of steady progress is at stake, and polio -- now on the ropes -- stands to stage a dangerous comeback unless the funding gap is bridged. Learn more ways to help at: endpolionow.org.

 In addition to raising money for polio eradication, Rotary members offer their time and expertise in the field to fight polio by providing support at clinics, transporting vaccine, contributing medical supplies, and mobilizing their communities for immunization and other polio eradication activities. Gord Britton, a member of the Rotary Club of Grand Bend, is one of many Rotary volunteers who travelled to India to help eradicate the disease. “It’s difficult to imagine what polio does to children,” he says. “These children are so poor and disadvantaged to start with, and polio robs them of any chance they might have for a decent life.”

The final push to a polio free world is an expensive proposition. The remaining polio endemic areas are hard to reach, war torn and with an increasingly migrant population. The Grand Bend Club has raised over $40,000 for the effort.

The Club has agreed to match all community donations to the project up to $5000. This matched donation will be again matched 2 for 1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to create a $6 donation for every $1 from the community.

Once eradicated, polio will join smallpox as one of only two diseases ever eliminated. 

Please make your cheque payable to The Rotary Foundation (Canada) and send it to The Rotary Club of Grand Bend Box 1261 or drop it off at Waypoint Financial 45 Ontario St.N. Grand Bend.

Tax receipts will be issued. For more information please contact Rotarian Brian Hall at 238-8892