Polio Plus

Polio Eradication

  • Rotary, supported by contributions of more than US$350M from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has raised in excess of US$1.5 Billion and contributed countless volunteer hours from more than one million Rotarians.
  • The Gates Foundation will continue to match two-to-one, up to US$35 million per year, every dollar Rotary commits to reduce the funding shortfall for polio eradication.
  • Over 2.5 billion children worldwide have been vaccinated since 1985.
  • Clubs and individuals are encouraged to contribute to the Polio Eradication Fund to ensure fulfilment of Rotary’s promise to the children of the world to have the world declared Polio free.
NB: PHF recognitions by Clubs and individuals may be credited to the Polio Eradication program.
  • Clubs are requested to support District initiated polio eradication fund raising events.
  • Contributions during 2019-2020 will support National Immunisation Days, the purchase of vaccines and equipment used in the drive against Polio.
  • D9800 is committed to supporting the fight to eradicate polio and will determine a suitable contribution annually to assist the program and supplement club contributions.
Ambassador: Catherine O’Connor (Laverton Point Cook)
 
Rotary Walk with Us to End Polio
Following a very successful event in 2020 Rotarians and friends of are encouraged once again to take action from October 1st to 31st to raise awareness, funds, and support to end poliomyelitis, a vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens the children of the world today.  As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary worldwide has helped to reduce polio cases from an average of 1000 cases per day in 1987 to a total of only 140 cases in 2020, a 99.9% reduction.
It is crucial to eliminate polio from Afghanistan and Pakistan, the last two countries where it remains endemic. We must also keep all other countries polio-free. If eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyse as many as 200,000 children each year.
Rotary and its partners are committed to eliminating poliomyelitis completely from the world. Smallpox is the only other disease ever completely eradicated. Funds are still needed to continue immunization and surveillance efforts.  
The Rotary Walk With Us campaign throughout October is a fun way to raise awareness and funds to End Polio Now.  
Using Rotary’s friendly website (www.rotarywalkwithus.org), you can register to walk and set distance and fundraising goals. Alternatively, you can donate to someone who is walking. For the walkers the total distance you have set for the month is accumulated over the entire month of October. So, you can walk when, where and with whom you want in a COVID safe way. Each walk is logged on the website along with all donations. It’s easy.
All donations through Rotary will be matched 2 to 1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation who are partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
All donations over $2.00 are tax deductable. Individuals, teams and Rotary clubs will be recognised and credited for their donations by The Australian Rotary Foundation Trust.
The results of the 2020 event exceeded all expectations. People registered from across District 9800, Australia and across the world. This resulted in raising over $122,000, of which over $75,00 was raised in D9800. The added benefit was the positive effect on physical and mental health by providing a focus for those living with COVID restrictions.
Register to walk and donate at www.rotarywalkwithus.org   
This website has more information on the event and the global program to eradicate Polio.
Donate today and be a part of the countdown to history. With your help we can end Polio for good.