Since pioneering the campaign to End Polio Now over 30 years ago, Rotary has connected volunteers and organisations from around the globe to get behind the cause and the same was true on this yearâs World Polio Day across social media.
30 years of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative
Rotary International hosted their 6th annual World Polio Day live event, streamed around the world on social media from the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, known as the birthplace of American medicine.
This yearâs event marked the 30th anniversary of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the international partnership between Rotary International, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Thousands tuned in live, but you can catch up on the discussion below.
Light it up
One of the best ways to make a splash on World Polio Day is by showing your message loud and proud. Check out some of the best End Polio illuminations from around the world.
Rotary in Missouri, USA
Rotary in Devon and Cornwall
View this post on Instagram
Rotary in Bangor light up the Menai Strait
The Pontio building turned purple tonight, as part of Bangor Rotary Clubâs initiative event to âLight up the Menai Strait Purpleâ publicising the âEnd Polio Nowâ international disease eradication campaign. 💜#MyBangor #FyMangor #DigitalAmbassadors #BangorUni #PrifysgolBangor pic.twitter.com/36pPdKgv65
â Rebekah Bullen (@RebekahBullen) October 24, 2018
Rotary in Melbourne, Australia
Purple plantings
This year Rotary clubs in Great Britain and Ireland planted over 2.5 million purple crocus corms, which will flower next spring.
The purple crocus has become a recognised symbol of polio as it represents the purple dye painted onto a childâs finger once they have been vaccinated.
The planting is in full swing!
But why do we plant crocuses? The purple flower has grown to represent the purple dye painted onto a childâs finger to show they have been protected for life with a polio vaccine. #EndPolio #WorldPolioday #Purple4Polio pic.twitter.com/tj09eTmegZ
— Rotary GB & Ireland (@RotaryGBI) October 24, 2018
. @RotaryGBI it was a pleasure to support #WorldPolioDay2018 with you today. #thankyou to our #local #rotarians who came to support the planting of 25,000 crocus corms. The stadium will look beautiful in Spring next year! #EndPolioNow #Purple4Polio #buckinghamshire #community pic.twitter.com/3jD5EYAlrm
— WheelPower (@wheelpower) October 24, 2018
Fab day with my Bilston & Wolverhampton @RotaryGBI Club marking #WorldPolioDay by Crocus planting with children from a local school in Ettingshall. We spoke to the children about the campaign and how Rotary work to #EndPolio worldwide. pic.twitter.com/oBqEj9Xqmy
— Councillor Beverley Momenabadi (@beverley_momen) October 24, 2018
In 2017, the #Rotary Club of #Norwich in conjunction with the Eaton Rise Residents Association planted 5,000 "Ruby Giant" crocus bulbs to mark the #purpleforpolio campaign – read more at https://t.co/VXwJSrJp9t pic.twitter.com/SNz5vxXBnV
— Rotary Norwich (@RotaryNorwich) October 22, 2018
What a great morning crocus planting for Purple4Polio with Penn Fields School, St Georges Rotary Club and the Mayor and Mayoress, helping to raise awareness for efforts to end polio @StGeorgesRotary @WolvesMayor @WolvesCouncil @wolvesparkies @rotarycrocus pic.twitter.com/m8QMA1j7iq
— Ranger Becky (@WV_Ranger_Becky) October 24, 2018
Passionate partners
The progress the world has made so far wouldnât be possible without a strong network of NGO, governmental and private sector partners.
As long as polio exists anywhere, it is a threat to children everywhere. The progress that weâve made is thanks to the heroic efforts of health workers, governments, partners, and donors who are working to reach every child. #WorldPolioDay pic.twitter.com/LGud5DlJPh
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) October 24, 2018
Our government is fully committed to ending polio in Pakistan. On #WorldPolioDay, I am confident, together with our people, we will achieve a safer, healthier and polio-free Pakistan for our children.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 24, 2018
There is NO cure for #polio, but vaccines can protect a child for life. #VaccinesWork #WorldPolIoDay pic.twitter.com/6URkbl5K4k
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) October 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/UNICEFDRC/status/1055043786353586176
Itâs #WorldPolioDay today! Do you know what it takes to make #VaccinesWork for every child? See how health workers go the distance to #EndPolio. pic.twitter.com/vGWLNGMbAD
— World Health Organization Western Pacific (@WHOWPRO) October 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/michelzaffran/status/1054989294966919168
Polio might be eradicated here in the UK, but survivors of the diseases still live on – meet two of them, David and Sue who are supporting the UKâs fight to help rid the world of polio #EndPolio #WorldPolioDay pic.twitter.com/yRVFNtMJ0p
— DFID (@DFID_UK) October 24, 2018
Purple4Polio Ambassadors show their support
Weâre incredibly thankful for the awareness our Rotary Purple4Polio Ambassadors raise â including on social media!
https://twitter.com/Anne_W_Strike/status/1055177648454934529
Nearly a thing of the past. Final push, come on everyone letâs END POLIO NOW. #WorldPolioDay https://t.co/vw7d3mp54g
— Konnie Huq (@Konnie_Huq) October 24, 2018
Today is #WorldPolioDay – Rotary has helped reduce the number of polio cases worldwide by 99.99%. We are on the brink of one of the greatest public health achievements in history. https://t.co/0uWBMMh8PE #PeopleOfAction #EndPolio
— Julia Roberts (@JuliaRobertsTV) October 24, 2018