Today is World Polio Day, a time Rotary members, public health advocates, and members of the community come together to recognize the fight to end polio. Stan Jenks, past President of the Monmouth Rotary Club, shares Rotary has been involved in the fight since 1985:
“Rotary launched the Polio Plus in 1985 and was a founding member of the Global Polio eradication initiative that began in 1988. Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. Our goal is to rid the world of this disease, and we are closer than ever. Today, polio remains endemic only in two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan. As of August the 21st, the report is that the number of cases is down to 27. If we don’t continue the effort, within ten years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.”
Nationwide, Rotary members have contributed over $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries.
