Rotary International, the Centre for Disease Control, UNICEF, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are part of the global health initiative to end polio throughout the world.
National governments, who also provide funding, are key to eradicating polio. The fight against the spread of polio is a village by village, child by child fight – but we are winning. Pakistan seems to be the last holdout for this devastating disease. Younger generations in developed countries do not even know about polio and their parents probably do not know anyone personally who was affected by this disease.
Clearwater Rotary Club has been involved in raising funds to help fight polio over the years by volunteering to paint a pinkie for a donation. This event has raised hundreds of dollars over the years.
The local club decided last year to donate $25 on behalf of guest speakers invited to the weekly club meetings on Wednesdays. This year the club will donate $250 to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
We must never forget about this deadly disease and continue the work to eradicate it. When you see local Rotarians set up to collect donations for polio eradication, please come and ask how the fight is going and consider leaving a donation.