District 9670 Governor Helen Ryan said World Polio Day was an important part of Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign, which has significantly contributed to a reduction in polio cases from about 350,000 cases a year to just 11 in 2017.

“Rotary is recognised across the globe as a group committed to ending polio,” she said.

“Through our activism and fundraising here in the Upper Hunter, we’ve been able to contribute to the near-eradication of polio across the world.”

World Polio Day offers the broader community the opportunity to join in the fight to end polio by working with local Rotarians to raise awareness of polio and the effect it has on children in third-world countries.

“Luckily, polio was eradicated in Australia years ago, but we still have a role to play to ensure it disappears across the globe,” Mrs Ryan said.

“There are young children in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria who are suffering from this debilitating disease. 

“By raising awareness we can make a real difference in their lives.”

Upper Hunter Rotary clubs will collect donations from the community on World Polio Day to assist in the fight to eradicate the disease. 

“Rotarians have contributed close to $2.5 million towards the End Polio Now campaign over the past 30 years and we’re so close to finally eradicating the disease,” Mrs Ryan said.

“We can soon achieve our goal of a polio-free world but we need to keep fundraising to guarantee ultimate success.”

Rotary has been joined by a number of high-profile international organisations in the fight against polio in recent times, including The World Health Organisation, UNICEF and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Australian Government also pledged its support to the campaign in 2014 when then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott committed $100 million over five years at the Rotary International Convention in Sydney.

If you would like to help celebrate World Polio Day or make a contribution to the fight against polio, email publicrelations@rotary9670.org.au