Perth Rotary Gets Moving to End Polio

A small group of Rotarians and Guests gathered on Friday 24th October for our annual walk to view the City's purple light show to mark Rotary's contribution towards eradicating World Polio.

Starting at the old St Paul's Church, the route took us down the High Street, past the Perth Museum, and finishing with a fine view of the brightly illuminated Perth Bridge. Not exactly the most arduous of walks but sufficient to warrant that droouths be quenched in the Old Ship Inn to round off a very pleasant evening.

Rotary International, along with the Bill Gates Foundation, has been involved in the “Global Polio Eradication Initiative” since 1979 with the first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines.  By 2023 the funds raised around the world had contributed to the reduction in polio cases by 99.9%.

It mainly affects children under 5 years old.  There is no cure but polio is preventable with a safe and effective vaccine.  It is crucial that we continue the work of vaccination to ensure that countries remain polio-free. Already we have witnessed a rise in cases in Gaza.

Perth Rotary has been contributing for many years, last year donating £2,000 directly to the Eradicating Polio Fund with an additional £3,500 going to the Rotary International Annual Fund. For every £1 donated to the Eradication Fund the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation provides another £2 contribution.  This year we received a "Certificate of Appreciation for financial support to End Polio Now: Countdown to History Campaign"

Rotary are not alone in supporting this initiative with PKC and other Perth organisations commemorating World Polio Day on 24^th October.  

For more information https://www.rotarygbi.org/our-causes/end-polio-now/