For over 30 years, Rotary has been at the forefront of the End Polio Now campaign, to eradicate polio from the globe. With the help of countless volunteers and organisations we are so close to completing our mission.
This World Polio Day Rotary members, campaigners, vaccinator’s supporters, and volunteers from all over the globe came together with many sharing their support on social media.
World Polio Day 2020 Global Update
Rotary International presented a global update of the progress made to eradicate polio. Every year on 24 October, World Polio Day presents a global opportunity to rally around the fight to eradicate the disease forever. This year’s theme is “A win against polio is a win for global health.”
Rotary’s Gift to the World – Our Polio Story
Rotary Great Britain & Ireland were joined by TV Presenter and author Konnie Huq and Paralympian Anne Wafula Strike MBE to host an evening of celebrating the polio journey we have been on so far.
Guests live on the night include film producer Jonathan Cavendish, who created the polio movie “Breathe” and Michel Zaffran, the Director of Polio Eradication at the World Health Organisation. Jonathan will be joined by his mother Diana, who together with her husband and polio survivor Robin, did so much for people with disability over many years.
Rotary Ambassadors show their support
Ade Adepitan, Rotary Ambassador, and polio survivor is joined by a few familiar faces to encourage the continued support of the End Polio Now campaign with the message ‘WE CAN’T DROP THE BALL’.
In August @WHO declared Africa free from Wild polio virus! I’m so happy children in the region are no longer in danger of catching the virus like I did. But there are still 2 countries where polio remains endemic we’re so close! WE CAN’T DROP THE BALL #WorldPolioDay #EndPolioNow pic.twitter.com/EsQt2KmfrB
— Ade Adepitan (@AdeAdepitan) October 24, 2020
Hear from the organisations which make up the Global Polio Eradication Initiative
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is a partnership between Rotary along with 5 other organisations to work together and end polio. The progress made towards ending polio is a collaborative effort, working together to achieve the end goal.
UNICEF
UNICEF shine a lot of the health workers and the challenges they endure in order to protect children from polio.
These 11 photos reveal how dedicated health workers are overcoming the challenges of COVID-19 to protect children from polio.#WorldPolioDay #VaccinesWorkhttps://t.co/yAUQvNHtYh
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) October 24, 2020
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation share how polio workers are also contributing to the fight against COVID-19.
Since the pandemic began, the polio program's resources and expertise have helped combat COVID-19.
Years of strengthening health systems and outbreak response in the fight to #EndPolio protects against current and future health threats. #WorldPolioDay pic.twitter.com/yF6dsEAr3i
— Gates Foundation (@gatesfoundation) October 24, 2020
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization share the history of polio, showing how far we have come in our mission to eradicate the disease for good.
Today is #WorldPolioDay!
5 of the 6 WHO regions – representing more 90% of the 🌎🌍🌏 population – are now free of the wild poliovirus!#EndPolio pic.twitter.com/RjUAKlRxaQ
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) October 24, 2020
CDC
CDC highlight how the polio infrastructure has been essential to ending polio, but also in supporting COVID-19 responses.
Gavi
Smallpox is the only human disease ever eradicated. Let’s make polio the second! Join the fight to #endpolio with @Rotary on #WorldPolioDay: https://t.co/m5rDxQuvff
— Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (@gavi) October 24, 2020
World Health Organization – African Region
After Africa was certified wild polio-virus free earlier, the WHO African Region mark World Polio Day with a message from Dr Matshidiso Moeti.
On this very special #WorldPolioDay, Dr @MoetiTshidi congratulates & thanks the Governments, communities, frontline health workers & polio survivors, who drove wild #polio out of Africa🌍. #EndPolio pic.twitter.com/scAAiN1lk1
— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) October 24, 2020
ShelterBox
Today is #WorldPolioDay, and we want to celebrate our Partner @Rotary for the work they do to eradicate the disease worldwide. 💚
The continent of Africa was certified wild polio free in August – a significant milestone in the journey. Learn more here: https://t.co/BjleOuemXh— ShelterBox (@ShelterBox) October 24, 2020
Rotary Members continue their fundraising efforts
Around the world, Rotary members found ways to continue their fundraising efforts for End Polio Now. In the UK Manoj Joshi has raised over £3,000 and counting for shaving off his iconic moustache all in the name of End Polio Now.
Lighting the towns purple
To mark World Polio Day, Rotary clubs lit up iconic buildings in their communities to celebrate. Here are a few examples from Great Britain & Ireland.
View this post on Instagram
@KilsythAcademy is overlooking Kilsyth with its prominent clock tower lit up purple this weekend to mark #WorldPolioDay on 24th October. Post your pics of the clock tower with the hashtags #PurpleforPolio #EndPolioNow #Rotary and tag us @RotaryKilsyth.@My_Kilsyth @nlcpeople pic.twitter.com/OMBYI3yA7v
— Rotary Kilsyth (@RotaryKilsyth) October 23, 2020
In support of @worldpolioday @EDCouncil lit several of their council buildings purple. Here we have Bearsden Community Hub and Lillie Art Gallery in Milngavie. Thanks to David for the photos. For more information on @Rotary work to end polio to https://t.co/wFpM2itVwx pic.twitter.com/GOmx9ZR0Ut
— Allander Rotary (@RotaryAllander) October 24, 2020
Dunfermline’s #CarnegieHall @onfife was lit up in purple to mark #WorldPolioDay on Sat 24th October as West Fife, @rotarydc and @RDunfermlineamong thousands of @Rotary clubs across the world raise awareness, funds and support to #endpolio Read more at https://t.co/aIvcSOUfQQ pic.twitter.com/XCPdeOOSfF
— WestFifeRotary (@WestFifeRotary) October 25, 2020
Thanks to #Knaresborough Town Council for turning the castle purple for #Rotary #WorldPolioDay 💜🏰 @RotaryRIBI @Rotary #Yorkshire #Harrogate #EndPolioNow pic.twitter.com/LoIhCA3SLu
— Knaresborough Rotary (@Kn_Rotary) October 24, 2020
We joined with members of Rotary Club of Scunthorpe Pentagon @RCSP81 in Church Square to support @EndPolioNow on #WorldPolioDay2020 Thanks again to @NorthLincsCNews pic.twitter.com/tV4P6SOY58
— Scunthorpe Rotary (@RCofScunthorpe) October 25, 2020
Planting Purple
Rotary clubs plant millions of purple crocus corms to raise awareness for efforts to end polio, ready for them to bloom in spring.
We did the Crocus Planting to raise awareness @EndPolioNow Enjoy #Banstead & thanks for your help @RHSBloom RT @RotaryGBI @Rotary @pr_rotary @reigatebanstead @YourBanstead @BansteadLib @VARB2020 @thebestofepsom @TheBeaconSch @ReigateLC @surreylive @CrispinBlunt @RotaryEndPolio pic.twitter.com/a1GQRphkIP
— Banstead Rotary (@BansteadRotary) October 24, 2020
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
#WorldPolioDay was Saturday. Rotary members planted 2500 crocus bulbs in the shape of the Rotary emblem on Friday by Christchurch Bridge in Caversham to celebrate Rotary's campaign to eradicate Polio. https://t.co/MtJCmTYHsE Let us know if you see them bloom next spring! pic.twitter.com/VAsuv3Xv7C
— ReadingRotaryClub (@RotaryReading) October 26, 2020
