World Polio Day - 24 October

Together, We Can End Polio

A world without polio is within reach. But until every child is protected, our work is not done.

Every year on 24 October, World Polio Day raises awareness of the devastating effects of poliomyelitis, celebrates the progress made towards eradicating the disease and renews our commitment to a polio-free world.

For Rotary, ending polio is one of our greatest humanitarian commitments. It is a mission built on decades of dedication, international co-operation and the belief that every child deserves a healthy future.

What is polio?

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Although the disease has been recognised for centuries, major outbreaks caused widespread fear during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, leaving thousands of children and adults paralysed.

The virus spreads mainly through the faecal - oral route and primarily affects children under five, although anyone who is unvaccinated can be infected. Many people experience no symptoms, but in some cases the virus attacks the nervous system, causing irreversible paralysis. In severe cases, it can affect the muscles needed for breathing.

There is no cure for polio, but it can be prevented through vaccination.

Before vaccines became available, polio devastated families and communities worldwide. Today, thanks to sustained immunisation efforts, the world is closer than ever to eliminating this disease.

Rotary’s role in the fight against polio

In 1985, Rotary International launched its PolioPlus programme, committing to protect children worldwide from polio. In 1988, Rotary became a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, alongside the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Gates Foundation and other partners.

Since then, Rotary members have helped raise funds, organise vaccination awareness campaigns, advocate for immunisation and support the global effort to reach every child.

The results have been extraordinary. Since 1988, cases of wild poliovirus have fallen by more than 99%. More than three billion children have been vaccinated through the wider global eradication effort and Rotary has contributed more than US$2.9 billion towards the campaign.

These achievements represent millions of children protected from a potentially life-changing disease and countless families spared its devastating consequences.

Why we must finish the job

Despite this remarkable progress, polio has not yet been eradicated. Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries where wild poliovirus is endemic.

Conflict, population movement and difficulties accessing healthcare can make vaccination campaigns challenging. Outbreaks of variant polioviruses also demonstrate why strong immunisation programmes and continued vigilance remain essential.

Until polio is eliminated everywhere, every country remains potentially at risk. Sustained funding, vaccination, disease surveillance and international cooperation are vital to protect the progress already made.

Eradicating polio would be a historic achievement, ensuring future generations never have to suffer from this preventable disease.

How can we help?

World Polio Day is an opportunity for everyone to make a difference. We can raise awareness, share reliable information, support Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign and help fund the ongoing work needed to protect children worldwide.

Today, Pershore's High Street lights have been turned purple to raise awareness of Rotary's drive to eradicate the disease. Purple is the colour of the dye placed on a child's left pinkie finger after they have received their polio vaccination. We are immensely grateful to Pershore's Town Clerk and her team at the Town Hall for arranging for the lights to be purple. Thank you.

For Rotary clubs, it is also a chance to celebrate the dedication of our members, volunteers and health workers who continue to work towards a polio-free future.

Every donation helps. Every vaccination matters. Every conversation can raise awareness.

We are this close!

The fight against polio demonstrates what people can achieve when they work together towards a common goal. We have come an extraordinary distance, but the final steps require our continued commitment.

On 24 October, our Rotary club joins people around the world in celebrating progress, remembering those affected by polio and renewing our determination to finish the job.

Together, we can end polio. Together, we can protect future generations. Together, we can make polio history.

We are this close!