PRESS RELEASE RE 'END POLIO NOW'

Rotary in Chichester Contributes to Africa Region Being Declared Wild Polio-Free

Rotary Clubs in Chichester played their part in a significant global public health achievement, as the World Health OrganiZation’s (WHO) Africa region has officially been certified wild polio-free.

Polio is a debilitating disease mainly affecting children, which can cause paralysis and even death.

This incredible milestone is the result of decades of effort from Rotary clubs and volunteers around the world, who have fundraised, campaigned and worked tirelessly since Rotary pledged to rid the world of polio more than 30 years ago. Rotary clubs throughout the world have made the End Polio Now campaign their top international objective for many years. In recent years, Bill Gates of Microsoft fame has been so impressed by Rotary’s international End Polio Now campaign that he’s matched the money that Rotary raises internationally, penny for penny!

All three of the local Rotary Clubs in our city have played their part in a whole variety of ways. The crocus flower is Rotary’s symbol for their End Polio Now campaign. Early in the campaign, to raise awareness about the problem, one of Chichester’s Rotary clubs planted a whole scape of crocus plants opposite the New Park Theatre, which blossom every year.

Funds have been raised in all sorts of ways. In successive years clubs have sold crocus lapel badges in aid of the campaign. Rotarians have periodically opted for a 'frugal' meal together so that usual cost of meals could be added to the End Polio Now campaign. Numerous, quiz evenings, race nights and golf days have been held to raise money for the cause. Every year, as a result, each of the Chichester Rotary clubs has donated a sizeable sum to the End Polio Now campaign.

The certification from the WHO comes 4 years after Nigeria, the last polio-endemic country in Africa, recorded its final case of wild polio and now means that, of the WHO’s six regions, five of those – accounting for 90% of the world’s population – are free from polio.

Globally, more than 2.5 billion children have been protected against the disease - reducing the number of cases by 99.9% from around 1000 cases per day in 125 countries.

David Easton, local spokesman on Rotary international aid, said: “This is a terrific landmark in the world’s battle to eradicate polio. Although it has been many years since polio has been present in the UK and Ireland, we are proud to have contributed to the global efforts to eliminate the disease for good.”

“We remain committed to making the final, challenging steps towards making a polio-free world a reality.”

“If we don’t finish the job, it’s estimated that, within 10 years, as many as 200,000 children annually all over the world could succumb to polio, including here in the UK. The virus can literally be a plane ride away, so vaccination is so important.”

“In less than a couple of months, Rotary clubs in Chichester will be mounting a further fundraising campaign to mark World Polio Day on 24 October.”

Despite this significant milestone being reached, the job to rid the world completely of polio goes on, as the virus continues to circulate in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In order to sustain this progress, vaccination programmes must continue to protect every last child and strengthen routine immunisation to keep immunity levels high, so the virus does not return to Africa or other parts of the world, including the UK.

Rotary has directly contributed more than US$2 billion to ending polio since 1985, including some £25,000 being contributed all together by Rotary in Chichester.