Rotary backs polio fight
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the PolioPlus programme.
MONDAY marked a very important date for Rotarians – the 110th anniversary of Rotary International.
On this day in 1905, Rotary founder Paul Harris formed one of the world’s first service organisations, the Rotary Club of Chicago, as a place where professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the PolioPlus programme.
Since the fight to end polio began, two billion children have been immunized, 10 million children have been saved from lifelong paralysis and 125 countries have been declared polio free.
At Tuesday’s Empangeni Rotary lunch, Dr Peter Haselau addressed Empangeni Rotarians about poliomyelitis and how it affects the sufferer, and also the prevention of polio.
One of the major global Rotary campaigns (with support from the Bill Gates Foundation) has been the drive to eradicate polio throughout the world.
This has been enormously successful, with only a few cases still being reported, mainly from areas with political unrest.
With this in mind the Interact Rotary Club, along with the Empangeni Rotary Club, are holding a Swimarathon at St Catherine’s School this Saturday to raise funds for the “End Polio Now” campaign.
All are welcome to participate. For more information contact Denise Brook on 083 3246045 or 035 7723041.
