OUR CLUB HAS BEEN THERE SINCE 1963. TO CELEBRATE OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY OUR CLUB DONATED 3,000 DOSES OF THE VACCINE TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF MITHAPUR, INDIA.
The Rotary Club of Toronto Charitable Foundation has donated $235,000 to Rotary International's Polio Fund since 2000. $100,000 was donated during our Centennial year 2012-13.
We were delighted to present Dr. Bob Scott a cheque for $10,000 for PolioPlus when he spoke to our club on October 18th. This amount will be matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation 2:1. This brings the value of our contribution to $30,000.
Bob Scott receiving cheque from President Kevin Power and Foundation Chair Susan Howson
Kevin and Dr. Bob with editor Maureen Bird
Polio Day in Toronto
Mayor John Tory has declared October 24, 2019 World Polio day in Toronto.
At 8:30 am we will be raising the Rotary/Polio flag on the second level at Nathan Phillips Square. Please join us.
The Toronto sign and the CN Tower will be lit in Rotary colours
City Hall 2016
Why Does PolioPlus Remain so Expensive?
We Cannot Win Until Every Child is Vaccinated
We do not certify a country polio free until there have been no cases for three years. We may vaccinate every child one year but we must go back and vaccinate the new babies.
Why?? The virus can continue to live in polluted waters without a human host for several years. The men on the left are collecting water for testing. Three years is a modest estimate. We must remain vigilant. We must continue the vaccines.
We are immunizing more than 450 million children each year in 60 countries.
We are funding over 150,000 polio workers and conducting disease surveillance activities in over 70 countries.
What has been Rotary's Role?
Rotary International took on Polio as a fight in 1979. We were the first organization to do this. We are still the largest single group.
We have partnered with WHO, CDC Atlanta and UNICEF since 1988.
Rotarians themselves have raised 1.25 BILLION dollars for this fight. More has been donated to us.
Canada was the first country to contribute to PolioPlus in 1998 and by 2012 had contributed $387 million
What are the Obstacles?
There are still new cases in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
There are pockets of missed children in conflict and geographically remote areas.
There are lies being spread about it being a plot to sterilize the children. Or that the vaccine contains pig fat or alcohol, forbidden by Islam. One chief refused to let the teams in to vaccinate. Later his son contracted polio. His village is now immunized but his son is still a victim.
The gentleman on the left is giving the drops to his son. A victory.
More than 70 polio workers and guards have been murdered in Pakistan.
Bob Scott receiving cheque from President Kevin Power and Foundation Chair Susan Howson
Kevin and Dr. Bob with editor Maureen Bird
