DISTRICT 5450 REMAINS DEDICATED TO ERADICATING POLIO
District 5450 is the #2 District in all of Zone 26 for our contributions to Polio Plus. . . not only in total contributions but in contributions per capita. District 5450 deserves kudos for demonstrating our dedication to Polio Plus and The Rotary Foundation. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is STILL funding polio eradication efforts and their commitment is steadfast on top of their other current pandemic efforts and focus. Together we can beat both diseases!
This month the independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) accepted full documentation of wild polio-free status from the remaining four countries in the African Region, taking the region one step closer to being certified free of wild poliovirus. The final step is for the ARCC to review the final updated annual reports from the remaining 43 countries. The commission is expected to conclude its review and make its final decision by August 2020.
While celebrating this step forward towards a polio-free Africa, conclusions from a new paper prepared by the program underline the challenges we face over the coming months, especially in the context of COVID-19. Throughout June, the program continued to plan for the safe resumption of polio immunization activities, alongside providing widespread support to pandemic response efforts. We are so close we must push forward and overcome this obstacle too! Rotarians keep their promises including the promise to the children of the world to eliminate the polioviruses from the face of the earth! District 5450 has been very generous in their support of Polio Plus and we look forward to their continued support. Fundraising will be a challenge soon due to COVID restrictions, but creativity has been blossoming in our District as we find new ways to do “Service above Self” being #PeopleofAction
The Polio Committee has recently welcomed a few new members this year but can always use more. The Polio Committee is always ready for presentations as well. If interested contact Marny Eulberg, Polio Committee chairperson from rotary5450.org.
We must remain committed to our work eradicating polio. Learn more about how our work fighting polio is supporting the COVID-19 response and consider contributing PolioPlus.