Category: Health

What is polio?

Polio (poliomyelitis) is a crippling and potentially deadly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. It mainly affects children under the age of 5. Polio can cause permanent paralysis and even death.

How is Rotary making a difference?

• Collaborating with global partners to organize mass immunization drives, reaching millions of children, even in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
• Raising awareness about the importance of polio vaccines, helping dispel myths and encouraging participation in vaccination campaigns.
• Advocating to governments to ensure sustained political and financial support for eradication efforts.
• Building infrastructure such as healthcare systems, laboratories, and rapid-response teams to detect and contain outbreaks.
• Innovating solutions like traveling by boat, camel, or foot to ensure no child is left unvaccinated.

Our work has already made a significant impact, reducing polio cases by 99.9% since 1988.

Why do we need your help?

Even with only a few cases left, we must continue our efforts until the world is polio-free. As long as one child remains infected, children everywhere are at risk. Your donations and volunteer efforts are crucial in delivering vaccines, supporting surveillance, and providing life-saving resources.

Protecting a child from polio for life only costs $3.

How can you get involved?

• Donate to help fund vaccines, healthcare workers, and community education.
• Volunteer to join a local Rotary chapter and participate in vaccination efforts.
• Raise awareness about polio eradication efforts on social media.

Together, we can make history by ending polio for good. Be part of the solution – join Rotary today! For more information, visit EndPolio.org.