We are This Close to Ending Polio

October 24, is World Polio Day--a perfect opportunity to join Rotary International's fight to end the disease. Rotarians are rasing $200 million to match the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's $355 million in grants by June 30, 2012.

Help us meet our goal by making a donation to The Rotary Foundation. Click the END POLIO NOW graphic under Sponsorships to see how to contribute. We appreciate your support!

Since Rotary began its PolioPlus Program, the number of countries which continue to be polio endemic has declined from over 125 countries in 1985 to 4 countries in 2010. The number of polio cases has declined by more than 99% since 1985. At the start of 2010, transmission of indigenous poliovirus had been interrupted in all but four countries (India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan). 

Besides raising funds, over one million men and women of Rotary have donated their time and resources to help immunize nearly 2 BILLION children during mass immunization campaigns throughout the world. These efforts are providing much needed polio vaccine, operational support, medical personnel, laboratory equipment and educational materials for health workers and parents.