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FLORENCE, S.C. – Members of the Rotary Club of Florence have continued their support in eradicating polio, with special emphasis on today's date: Oct. 24, 2018. It's End Polio Now Day.
The club is accepting donations this week that will be matched at the Rotary district level, and twice again by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; For every dollar donated, $ 6 will be sent to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to protect children from this paralyzing virus.
Since 30 years ago, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent, from approximately 350,000 boxes per year to only 22 cases in 2017. To sustain this progress, and protect all children from polio, Rotary has committed to raising $ 50 million per year in support of global polio eradication efforts. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match Rotary's commitment 2: 1.
In 1979, Rotary International began its fight against a multi-year project to immunize six million children in the Philippines. In 1988, Rotary International joined the World Health Organization to launch the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. At that time, there were 350,000 reported cases of polio in 125 countries. In 2014, South-East Asia was certified polio-free, and polio cases were down worldwide over 99 percent. Only three countries currently reported cases of polio: Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.
By Rotary's contributions to the GPEI will exceed US $ 2.2 billion, including US $ 985 million in matching funds from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Rotary's contribution to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative since 1988 accounts for nearly 14% of all contributions through June 2017 and represents approximately 42% of private sector contributions.
Rotary is the leading nongovernmental voluntary organization contributing to the GPEI.
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