World Polio Day - October 24th

World Polio Day – 24^th October

One day, One Focus, Ending Polio

Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever.  As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we've reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979.

Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort.

Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.

In addition with the kind permission of owners the Hub on the Hill, St Marys Church Rye and Rye Castle Museum Ypres Tower wil all be lit in purple during this week in  recognition of world polio day on October 24.

Our thanks go to these organisations for their ongoing support of their local Rotary club. Club president Eric Bourne said “There are now a number of sites in our community planted with purple crocus as part of Rotary campaign to end polio, including Valley Park, East Guldeford and now the Hub on Rye Hill The colour purple is used to mark  the child’s finger once they have been vaccinated.”