Monday, October 24 is World Polio Day. Since 1985, when Rotary launched its PolioPlus program, more than one million Rotary club members worldwide have donated their time and private resources to end polio.
Every year, Rotary members work side-by-side with health workers to vaccinate children in polio-affected countries. Every dollar Rotary commits to polio eradication is matched two-to-one by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation up to US$35 million a year through 2018.
Although as of early June this year, there were only 16 cases of wild polio virus in the world, and polio is endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the reality is that no place on earth is safe from polio until the world is certified polio-free. Immunization campaigns must continue in 15-20 other high-risk countries. These large-scale vaccinations are an enormous undertaking, and the distribution of the vaccine is very costly. Another 1.5 billion dollars is needed to finish the job.
The Rotary Club of Ajijic is holding its annual End Polio fundraiser Friday, October 28, 5-8 p.m. at Roberto’s Restaurant. Tickets are 400 pesos. Dinner includes Caesar salad, poblano soup, choice of chicken or fish piccata, noodles alfredo, broccoli and chocolate brittle brownie for dessert. Frankie Dino will provide the music.
Tickets are available at Roberto’s and from Rotary members. Call Anita at 766-2410 or Carol at 333-178-8918 for more information.