World Polio Day Celebration Dinner to End Polio – save the date

The Rotary Club of Blacktown City will be holding a fund raising dinner on World Polio Day, Tuesday 24 October 2023. Please save the date – more details to come.

World Polio Day is annually observed on October 24. This day commemorates global efforts toward a polio-free future, as well as the selfless sacrifices of those working on the frontline of the battle to eradicate polio from every corner of the world.

Every year on 24 October, we observe World Polio Day to raise awareness of the importance of polio vaccination to protect every child from this devastating disease, and to celebrate the many parents, professionals and volunteers whose contributions make polio eradication achievable.

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus. The virus spreads from person to person and can infect a person’s spinal cord, causing paralysis (can’t move parts of the body).

During World Immunization Week 24-30 April, our work on polio eradication is proof that vaccines save lives. 3 billion children have been vaccinated against polio and the cases of polio have been reduced by 99.9% since 1988. But we know the job is not done until every child is vaccinated, and polio is stopped for good. Only two countries remain polio-endemic: Afghanistan and Pakistan. The latest statistics show Afghanistan reported 5 Wild Poliovirus cases. In 2022 they reported 2 cases, 2021 4 and 2020 56 cases, and Pakistan latest count reported 1 Wild Poliovirus case. In 2022 Pakistan reported 20 cases, 2021 just 1 case, but in 2020 84 cases.

We are this close to ending Polio!