Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5.
Most know it as poliovirus. The virus is spread person to person, typically through contaminated water. It can attack the nervous system, and in some instances, lead to paralysis. Although there is no cure, there is a safe and effective vaccine – one which Rotary and our partners use to immunize over 2.5 billion children worldwide.
Since 2013, the Gates Foundation has matched every $1 Rotary commits to polio eradication 2-to-1, up to $35 million per year. Rotary, with matching funds from the Gates Foundation, has contributed more than $1.6 billion to end polio.
Since Rotary started the fight against polio, we’ve reduced the number of polio cases by 99.9 percent and reached more than 2.5 billion children with the vaccine. There are fewer polio cases today than ever before, but we will not stop until we reach zero. If polio is not eradicated, hundreds of thousands of children could be paralyzed. Global health care costs would rise dramatically, and many children’s quality of life would be drastically diminished.
The Facts
1 Polio mainly affects children under age 5.
2 There is no cure, but polio is 100% preventable with a vaccine.
3 Only two countries remain endemic.
4 We’ve reduced cases by 99.9% since 1988.
5 Until we end polio forever, every child is at risk.
As you can see these projects require direct funding throughout the year. The Charitable Foundation of the Summerville Evening Rotary club is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your gift is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. The club has partnered with Rotary International to put an end to Polio in the world. Every penny counts! It only take two drops per child.
Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5.
