World Polio Day is Tuesday, October 24th. This Saturday, October 21, Bowen Rotary members will set up a table in front of Rudy Potato for a few hours to promote Rotary International’s Polio Eradication Campaign and the End Polio Now campaign. Donation for one of our polio pigs.
Where will the donations go? To fund people (vaccinators, supervisors, field coordinators, drivers). for equipment and training sessions for vaccinators and their support staff.
What is polio? It is a virus that is spread primarily to children and young people, usually through contaminated water. At its peak in the 1940s and 50s, polio paralyzed or killed more than 500,000 people worldwide each year. Many of us remember friends and family members who suffered from this debilitating disease. There is no cure, but there is an oral vaccine that has helped virtually eradicate polio in all but two countries of the world. Below are some interesting dates.
1749: Polio has existed for thousands of years, but is first clinically reported.
1908: It was discovered that polio was caused by a virus.
1928: A ventilator called the iron lung is invented.
1955: Injectable polio vaccine developed by Dr. Salk
1961: Oral vaccine replaces Salk vaccine
1979: Rotary International launches polio campaign
1988: The Polio Eradication Initiative is established by the World Health Organization and Rotary to eradicate polio worldwide. 350,000 cases have been detected in 125 countries. The initiative has since been joined by other funders, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF.
2006: Polio is restricted to only four countries: India, Nigeria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
2020: Only two (conflict) countries report polio cases
2023: Only 7 cases of polio detected in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Why are we so concerned about polio when it has almost been eradicated worldwide? It is important that we continue to work to eliminate polio from all countries. If all eradication efforts were halted today, within 10 years polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.
Furthermore, polioviruses are everywhere, as noted by the detection of mutated polioviruses around the world in several previously polio-free countries, including Canada, Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States. are also a threat to children (and really everyone).
The word “Rotary” is synonymous with “polio” around the world, and the Rotary Club of Bowen Island asks you to help fight this disease, especially in vulnerable parts of the world. We will be selling cookies on Saturday to support this cause. Please come and support us!
In addition, our polio pigs will be placed at a variety of local businesses over the coming weeks, including Kate’s Pharmacy, Rudy’s Potatoes, and Beer and Wine Store. For more information about the fight against polio, please visit Rotary International (rotary.org)
