Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) have had to take bold action in the historic fight to eradicate polio. On October 24th Rotary celebrates World Polio Day to highlight the monumental and innovative steps that are getting us closer to our goal. We’ll also celebrate 30 years of achievements by the GPEI.
In 1988, when Rotary and its partners founded the GPEI, the paralyzing disease affected 350,000 children. Our collaboration with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and later the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, local health workers, and national governments has helped reduce the number to just 18 cases of wild poliovirus this year.
World Polio Day is observed in late October to honor the birthday of Dr. Jonas Salk, who led the development of the first polio vaccine.
In 1988, when Rotary and its partners founded the GPEI, the paralyzing disease affected 350,000 children. Our collaboration with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and later the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, local health workers, and national governments has helped reduce the number to just 18 cases of wild poliovirus this year.
World Polio Day is observed in late October to honor the birthday of Dr. Jonas Salk, who led the development of the first polio vaccine.