On Oct. 24, people around the globe will celebrate World Polio Day. The Rotary Club of Campbell River celebrates this event and also makes a concerted effort each October to raise funds to support the cause to eradicate polio throughout the world.
The popular “Pumpkins for Polio” beer and burger auction event at the Riptide Pub is the major fundraising event. This year, the event will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 29 starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 (same price as last year) and are available at Coho Books and the Riptide Pub. Please come join us and help eradicate polio in the world.
Polio
Some of you may have a connection with someone who had or still suffered from the consequences of this devastating disease.
Some of you may ask ‘what is Polio’ or ‘is it still around?’ Poliomyelitis, or polio, is a paralyzing and potentially fatal disease that still threatens children in some parts of the world. Poliovirus invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in hours. It can strike people of any age but mainly affects children under five.
Polio can be prevented by vaccines, but it is not curable. Unlike most diseases, polio can be eradicated. Polio eradication will be one of history’s greatest public health achievements, with polio following smallpox to become the second human disease eradicated from the world. Smallpox was officially eradicated in 1980.
Polio Today
When Rotary and its partners formed the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries every year.
Today, we have reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent, and just two countries continue to report cases of wild poliovirus: Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Because of the efforts of Rotary and its partners, 20 million people who would otherwise have been paralyzed are walking, and more than 1.5 million people are alive who would otherwise have died. If all eradication efforts stopped today, it is estimated that within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year. The required action is clear – vaccines work, and to prevent polio from spreading, we need to make sure that the most at-risk people have are vaccinated.
Most importantly, we need to eradicate polio throughout the world. Rotary members have contributed more than $2.6 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect three billion children from this paralyzing disease. Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments and non-government agencies to contribute more than $18 billion to the effort of eradicating polio throughout the world.
Challenges
Rotary and its partners have made tremendous progress against polio, but eliminating all cases is going to take even more progress and perseverance.
Vaccinating against the polio virus is key to achieving our goal of eradicating polio. Afghanistan and Pakistan face unique challenges, including political insecurity, highly mobile populations, difficult terrain, and, in some instances, vaccine refusal and misinformation. With sufficient resources, the commitment of national governments, education, and innovations that improve access to remote areas, we are optimistic that we can eliminate polio.
Recently, the ongoing crisis in Gaza has contributed to reduced routine immunization rates and an increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio. The recent detection of variant poliovirus type-2 isolates in environmental samples and the confirmation of a 10-month-old child who has contracted polio in Gaza is a stark reminder that as long as polio exists anywhere, it is a threat everywhere.
Ensuring Success
More than one million Rotary members have donated their time and money to eradicate polio, and every year, hundreds of members work with health workers to vaccinate children in countries affected by polio.
Rotary members work with UNICEF and other partners to prepare and distribute informational materials for people in areas that are isolated by conflict, geography, or poverty. They also mobilize to recruit fellow volunteers, assist in transporting the vaccine, and provide other logistical support. The goal is to immunize more than 400 million children against polio every year. Rotary has committed to raising $50 million per year for polio eradication. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to match that 2-to-1, for a total commitment of $150 million each year. These funds provide much-needed operational support, medical workers, laboratory equipment, and educational materials. Governments, corporations, and private donors all play a crucial role in funding these efforts.
The Rotary Club of Campbell River
The Rotary Club of Campbell River has been, since the start of the polio eradication program in 1988, an active participant in fundraising to support this effort. The Rotary Club of Campbell River has raised funds for the PolioPlus program through different initiatives. The Pumpkins for Polio auctions have provided the majority of funds.
In addition to the Pumpkins for Polio event at the Riptide Pub, Rotary Club members also hold an in-house pumpkin auction at a regular noon meeting where members decorate, carve, or paint pumpkins which are auctioned off to fellow members. More recently, Berwick By The Sea residents and staff have become involved in fund raising for polio eradication and through raffles and other activities have raised significant funds for the cause.
Again, The Rotary Club of Campbell River invites everyone to join us for our annual beer and burger/auction event at the Riptide Pub on Tuesday, Oct. 29 starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 and are available at Coho Books and the Riptide Pub. All funds raised will be double matched (2:1) by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Please join us at the Riptide Pub and get something special just in time for Halloween and at the same time support our efforts in eradicating polio throughout the world. Together we can END POLIO NOW.
– Submitted by Gary McLelan and Pieter Koeleman, Co-Chairs End Polio Now Committee, Rotary Club of Campbell River
