End Polio Now

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In January, Bill Gates announced an increase in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's challenge grant for polio eradicationto a total of $355 million to assist in the program to create a polio-free world.  Rotarians have been challenged to raise $200 million in response.

Polio has been completely eliminated in the Americas, the Western Pacific and Europe, but the wild polio virus persists in Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan, and imported cases from these countries threaten other nations. It is in these four countries that the most serious challenges exist, including vaccine effectiveness (India), low vaccination coverage rates (Nigeria), and access problems due to conflict (Afghanistan and Pakistan). Much depends on the countries themselves. Recent progress in key areas has shown that these challenges can be overcome with sufficient national and sub-national commitment.

Rotary is up for the challenge, will you help us to realise our goals?

Every dollar donated means at least one more child will receive the polio vaccine, even in the remote regions of developing countries, thanks to the combined efforts of Rotary volunteers, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations, and the US Centers for Disease Control. 

You can help by making a donation to the Australian Rotary Foundation Trust.  Just download this form and make a cheque or credit card donation.

There are four video clips of the Bill Gates announcement in January.