Rotary clubs continue efforts to eliminate polio | New

COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Members of the Rotary Club of Coldwater and surrounding areas are among millions of people who are mobilizing on World Polio Day on Wednesday, October 24, to raise awareness. public and raise funds to end the vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens children in some parts of the country. the world today.

Since Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative 30 years ago, the incidence of polio has dropped by more than 99.9%, from About 350,000 cases a year to only 22 in 2017 and only 18 this year. To support this progress and protect all children from polio, Rotary is committed to raising $ 50 million annually to support polio eradication efforts around the world, with every dollar donated two dollars from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Rotary has donated more than $ 1.8 billion to end polio since 1985, including more than $ 25,000 from local Rotary clubs. If you would like to donate to support this cause, you can contact your local Rotary club or visit endpolio.org.

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to solving the world's most pressing humanitarian challenges, bringing together 1.2 million members from more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographies.