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End Polio Now
Remember: #1 Issue is Eradicating Polio

by Bob Hagan, District Foundation Chair

The number one initiative of Rotary International is to eradicate Polio.

The picture to the left provides the three main elements of information every Rotarian should know about Polio if ever asked by anyone outside of Rotary. It covers who it mainly affects, what can be done about it and where we are today in the fight against Polio. That might be enough for most people, but as Rotarians, knowing a bit more is never a bad thing, so let’s cover a few extra points that may be considered, “nice to have”, but they sure are important. 

Are you aware that Rotarians have donated billions of dollars in the global effort to rid the world of Polio? Additionally, we have donated countless hours dedicated to the fight against the disease, so numerous, it’s hard to keep an accurate count. 

Rotary International as well as individual clubs worldwide have been the main advocates to governments to increase their contributions to the fight against Polio. Via the Rotary vaccination program millions of children have been helped against this disease in countries around the world.

Through Polio Plus many additional benefits have been seen beyond polio eradication such as increased medical treatment, access to clean water and even soap disbursement. With notable partnerships including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization, and governments around the world, the eradication of polio worldwide is truly in sight. There has been a 99.9% reduction in polio cases since 1979. Polio is only endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan now and even they are now in our sights. 

Understanding the impact cannot be fully understood unless one has this one final fact. If our eradication efforts were to cease today, as many as 200,000 children could be paralyzed each year. If that isn’t enough to know we must continue to push on, I don’t know what is. Together we can end polio forever.


Posted by Bob Hagan
March 2, 2025

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