The eradication of polio in the world has been a commitment by Rotary International worldwide since 1989.

The Rotary Club, Knights Pendragon in Edenvale, has also donated towards this cause for many years. This is to ensure children in the world would be immunised against the disease.

With Rotary’s commitment, the aim to immunise 400 million children throughout the world continues.

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World Polio Day, observed annually on October 24, is commemorated among Rotary clubs worldwide.

On this day, Rotary International and Rotary clubs inform people about the severe harm polio can cause, especially in young children under five years old.

Presently, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world that are not polio-free yet.

At the end of September, 28 cases of polio between the two countries were reported.

The work in countries that are free of polio also continues, through the immunisation of new children born.

If this does not happen, it is predicted that in less than 10 years from now 200 000 children a year would become paralysed by polio and thus diminish their quality of life.

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In these past 35 years, Rotary has seen 2.5 billion children immunised against polio in 122 countries.

For information on the subject of polio and its consequences, go to https://www.rotary.org/en/our-causes/ending-polio

Alternatively, contact the Rotary Club, Knights Pendragon president Laurence Vosloo 0828394459 or coordinator John Anticevich 082 296 4779.