Past District Governor and End-Polio-Now Coordinator Eric Denu was our speaker today. He showed us a short video describing how the polio campaign began in the Philippines. There are five End-Polio-Now coordinators in the combined Zones 32 and 16. Our Zone 32 has 40 districts within it. The coordinators are responsible for advocating, awareness, educating, and fundraising in the districts they cover.
End Polio Now is the premier humanitarian project for Rotary’s 1.2 million members.
The fundraising goal is $50 million this Rotary year. The Gates Foundation will make a two-for-one match for whatever funds Rotary raises. The international program to eradicate polio began in 1979.
PDG Eric related to us how RI President Francesco Arezzo’s first official visit was to Pakistan to meet with Pakistan’s prime minister and the army commanders in two separate meetings to discuss efforts to eradicate polio in that country.
The fundraising goal is $50 million this Rotary year. The Gates Foundation will make a two-for-one match for whatever funds Rotary raises. The international program to eradicate polio began in 1979.
PDG Eric related to us how RI President Francesco Arezzo’s first official visit was to Pakistan to meet with Pakistan’s prime minister and the army commanders in two separate meetings to discuss efforts to eradicate polio in that country.
The Polio Plus Society is open to members who pledge to give $100 annually until polio is eradicated. Eric distributed information regarding the Polio Plus Society. One seldom known fact is that dogs and cats are eligible to join—financially backed by their owners!
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the two countries where polio is now endemic.
This year there have been 35 cases of polio in these two countries—29 in Pakistan and 6 in Afghanistan. These are considered the only wild cases. Last year there were 99 cases. In addition to wild cases, there are a small number of vaccine-associated polio cases as well (three cases for every million doses administered).
This year there have been 35 cases of polio in these two countries—29 in Pakistan and 6 in Afghanistan. These are considered the only wild cases. Last year there were 99 cases. In addition to wild cases, there are a small number of vaccine-associated polio cases as well (three cases for every million doses administered).
Celeste Herbert reinforces PDG Eric’s message about the importance of our support for the Rotary Foundation’s End Polio Now campaign.
Towards the end of PDG Eric’s talk, President Marilyn introduced Celeste Herbert, the endowment and major gifts advisor for the Rotary Foundation. Celeste has been here visiting some Rotary Foundation donors in the Upper Valley, Middlebury, and Lincoln-Woodstock, NH, areas. Celeste gave us facts and figures regarding the Foundation’s efforts. Both Celeste and Eric urged the membership to advocate proactively on behalf of Rotary and the Rotary Foundation.
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