Polio Update
Posted by Tim Datig
on May 17, 2012
In 2010, Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith, the first Rotary scholar alumnus to serve as president, challenged all Foundation alumni to contribute US$ 1 million in support of Rotary International’s Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation US$200 Million Challenge. Since, Foundation alumni have successfully raised US$836,629. You and your fellow alumni are close to completing this challenge. Please help by donating at www.rotary.org/endpolio.
In January, Rotary International met the US$200 Million Challenge. While this is a phenomenal achievement, it is only a milestone. Rotary’s true challenge is the certification of the eradication of polio- three years without a case of polio anywhere. We are so close to ending polio forever. Today, India is now classified as a non-endemic country; however, polio is an obstinate and contagious disease and failure to break the polio transmission cycle could lead to resurgence.
Polio is still endemic in Nigeria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and has re-established transmission in Angola, Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The annual cost for polio eradication efforts globally is over US$800 million. For the 2012-2013 calendar years, there is a US$1,090 billion funding gap. Rotary needs the support of its Foundation alumni to help close this funding gap.
Every US$60 donated to Rotary’s Polio Challenge will immunize 100 children against polio. Meeting alumni’s goal of US$ 1 million will immunize over 1.6 million children. Already, you have helped to fund the immunization of more than 1.3 million children. Please help your fellow alumni meet Rotary’s challenge and help protect over 300,000 more children from polio.
Sincerely,
John T. Osterlund General Manager, The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International 1987-88 Ambassadorial Scholar, Stockholms Universitet
Sincerely,
John T. Osterlund General Manager, The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International 1987-88 Ambassadorial Scholar, Stockholms Universitet