World Polio Day 24th October

24th of October is a special day for the world, World Polio Day marking the effort and commitment to eradicate polio.

The Purple4Polio campaign is inspired by the length of the borders between the remaining two polio-endemic countries.

When Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries every year. We’ve made great progress against the disease since then. Today, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 percent, and just two countries continue to report cases of wild poliovirus: Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Rotary has contributed more than $2.1 billion to ending polio since 1985. The Rotary Club of Ewell is proud to have contributed towards this and remains committed to the end.

With polio nearly eradicated, Rotary and its partners must sustain this progress and continue to reach every child with the polio vaccine. Without full funding and political commitment, this paralyzing disease could return to polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk. Rotary has committed to raising US$50 million each year to support global polio eradication efforts. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to match that 2-to-1, for a total yearly contribution of $150 million.