“If we all have the fortitude to see this effort through to the end, then we will eradicate polio.” — Bill Gates, cochair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Since 1988, Rotary International and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) — the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — have worked to wipe polio from the face of the earth. A volunteer service organization of 1.2 million men and women, Rotary began immunizing children against polio in 1985 and became a spearheading partner in the GPEI three years later.

Rotary’s main responsibilities are fundraising, advocacy, and volunteer recruitment. To date, Rotary has contributed more than US$900 million to the polio eradication effort.

With over 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas, Rotary is able to reach out to national governments worldwide to generate crucial financial and technical support for polio eradication. Since 1995, the advocacy efforts of Rotary and its partners have helped raise more than $8 billion from donor governments.

Rotary clubs also provide “sweat equity” on the ground in polio-affected communities, which helps ensure that leaders at all levels remain focused on the eradication goal. Rotary club members have volunteered their time and personal resources to reach more than two billion children in 122 countries with the oral polio vaccine.

Thanks to Rotary and its partners, the world has seen polio cases plummet by more than 99 percent, preventing five million instances of child paralysis and 250,000 deaths. When Rotary began its eradication work, polio infected more than 350,000 children annually. In 2009, fewer than 1,700 cases were reported worldwide.

But the polio cases represented by that final 1 percent are the most difficult and expensive to prevent. Challenges include geographic isolation, worker fatigue, armed conflict, and cultural barriers.

That’s why it’s so important to generate the funding needed to End Polio Now. To fail is to invite a polio resurgence that would condemn millions of children to lifelong paralysis in the years ahead.

The bottom line is this: As long as polio threatens even one child anywhere in the world, all children — wherever they live — remain at risk.

Contributions will be accepted till the 30th June 2012

Press Release date:             24th October 2011

Media contact:          Geoff Williamson, 01293-885833, geoffwilliamson@gatwickdiamondrotary.org

Local Rotary clubs log on to support World Polio Day

Rotarians from the Gatwick Diamond Rotary Club and across Great Britain and Ireland are publicising World Polio Day, Monday 24th October, by harnessing the power of social media.

On this date, members will post polio stories to their social network sites, such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and so on, including the following hashtag phrase in their message:

#rotaryendpolio

The inclusion of this phrase in every post will help create an active online discussion which will draw attention to the drive to eradicate polio. Adding comments to online news sites will also help boost the discussion.

President of the Gatwick Diamond Rotary Club, Dr. Mansour Jumaa says everyone can be part of the activity: “This is a great way to help raise awareness of polio and support a fantastic cause. Just 30 seconds to post a message, tweet or comment on a polio story with the hashtag #rotaryendpolio will make a big difference.

“We want people to know how close we are to eradicating this terrible disease from the world and how much we need their help to wipe out that final 1 percent. Rotary, in partnership with other health organisations, has achieved a tremendous amount since starting the drive to end polio in 1985. Instead of thousands of cases a month across 125 endemic countries, there are now barely a thousand a year and four endemic countries. The lives of over two billion children have been saved thanks to the Rotary campaign, End Polio Now. Although great news, we are not complacent. The campaign will keep going until polio is gone for good.

“I am blogging, tweeting and putting messages on Facebook to keep this campaign in the spotlight. I urge everyone to log on and help #rotaryendpolio.”

Members of Rotary Clubs Worldwide are going out to India in November to help with a National Immunisation Day. They will be administering the polio vaccine to young children, to protect them from the virus. This is how committed Rotarians are to consigning the disease to the history books.

Join in the campaign by blogging, commenting and tweeting on social network sites, quoting #rotaryendpolio.

For more information, visit http://www.gatwickdiamondrotary.org/2011/10/world-polio-day-24th-october/

Discover your local Rotary club ( Gatwick Diamond Rotary Club ) and make new friends whilst improving the lives of others.

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS

About Rotary

Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI), part of Rotary International, has 1845 clubs and more than 55,000 members.

Rotary International was founded in 1905 in Chicago and is now the world’s largest international service organisation with 1.2 million professional men and women as members. There are 33,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas.

Rotary clubs are open to men and women of all ages who are business, professional or community leaders and who want to use their experience for the benefit of others.

Rotary initiates local and global projects to promote world understanding and peace and improve life conditions for people of all ages and cultures. To find out more, visit www.ribi.org. or www gatwickdiamondrotary.org

About polio

Since pledging in 1985 to eradicate polio, Rotary and other health organisations have
made tremendous strides. Where there were once 125 endemic countries, there are now just four: India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan.

The campaign to fight polio is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which has donated $355m in challenge grants. Rotary will match their generous donations by raising $200m by June 2012. The generosity of Bill and Melinda Gates is very much appreciated.

Rotary is the largest private sector contributor to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, with partners including the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, which battles against a number of difficulties including geographic isolation, armed conflict, cultural barriers, worker fatigue and poverty.

Rotary clubs in Great Britain and Ireland have donated more than £16.5 million (US$26.5 million) to polio immunisation initiatives. Rotary members worldwide have so far raised US $900 million to fund polio immunisation activities and every penny raised goes to the project. Rotarians all work on a purely voluntary basis so funds are not drained away in administration costs.

Money raised goes towards funding national immunisation drives for all children under age five in endemic and high risk countries, as well as tracking possible incidences of the disease, measures to control outbreaks and improving public health infrastructures.