World Polio Day 2024: Stories of Progress, Past and Present

World Polio Day is observed on October 24th every year to raise awareness and advocate for polio vaccination and eradication of polio. Polio is highly contagious viral infection that can lead to paralysis and even death. The World Polio Day was established by Rotary International more than three plus decades ago to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk who led the first team to develop vaccination again Poliomyelitis.

Rotary begins its war against Polio on 29th September 1979 at Makati, Philippines. The event in Manila was arranged by Rotarians and Ministry of Health of Philippines. The then Rotary International President James I Bomar put the first drops of polio vaccine into a child’s mouth. That was the first 3H (Health, Hunger and Humanity) Programme of Rotary. The joint venture between Ministry of Health of Philippines and Rotary International immunise about 6 million children at a cost of about $7,60,000.

The success story of the project led Rotary International to adopt polio eradication as its top priority. Rotary officially launched Polio Plus Programme in 1985 and became founder of Global Polio Eradication initiative in 1988 along with World Health Organisation. Rotary spend more than 2.10 billion dollars and countless volunteer hours to protect 3.00 billion children of more than 122 countries.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has partnered with Rotary to match donations for polio eradication at 2:1 ration.

Rotary raises over $50 million every year with every dollar matched with two dollars from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. These funds help to provide much needed operational support, medical personnel and laboratory equipment, and support the crucial work of engaging committee leaders and parents to build trust in vaccines.

Rotary’s continuous advocacy and efforts resulted as only two countries are still polio endemic namely Afghanistan and Pakistan. Rotary have successfully eradicated Polio cases by 99.90%.

Rotary is so close but Rotary can’t stop until a single Polio case exists. No child is safe until a single case exists anywhere in the world. If Rotary stop here within a span of 10 years 2,00,000 children will be paralysed yearly.

So Rotary has to be more careful, more committed and more focused. The celebration of World Polio Day doesn’t mean that Rotarians are celebrating their victory. They are celebrating the day to convey our gratitude and thanks towards thousands of health workers who are the instrumental of this success.

More than 1 million Rotary members have donated their time and personal resources to end polio. Every year, hundreds of Rotary members work side by side with health workers to vaccinate children in polio-affected countries. Rotary members work with UNICEF and other partners to prepare and distribute mass communication tools to reach people in areas isolated by conflict, geography or poverty. Rotary members also recruit fellow volunteers, assist with transporting the vaccine, and provide other logistical support.

Their dedication, vigilance and commitments should be celebrated every day, but this day is especially dedicated to them. The celebration of the day is to convey our thanks to them.

Ministry of countries who stand beside us and assist us eradicate polio. This celebration is for those who have support the polio foundation.

Rotary Club of Dimapur also started Polio Immunisation Programme in 1979 as an NGO, and since then the immunisation programme is being continued. Every year during NIDs, members of the Rotary Club of Dimapur along with the nation takes active part in immunising children in various parts of the Dimapur City .

Let we all come together to make World a better and safe place for our children until we do so, every child is at risk.

Compiled on behalf of Rotary Club, Dimapur by Rtn RS Panesar, District Polio Chair, D 3240 and Rtn Monoj Bhattacharjee, President, Rotary Club, Dimapur