St. Croix Rotarians in are among millions reaching out on World Polio Day to raise awareness, funds and support to end polio – a vaccine preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today.
According to a release issued Monday, St. Croix Rotarians will be turning Fort Christianvaern End Polio Now red on Wednesday evening with the End Polio Now logo at the top of the Fort. Rotarians will be
Lighting Fort Christianvaern
On Wednesday, October 24th, beginning at 6:00 p.m., Fort Christianvaern will be washed in red with the End Polio Now logo on the top of the Fort, according to the release. St. Croix Rotarians will be joining Rotarians around the world illuminating iconic structures to let the world, and our local communities, know that we are “this Close” to eradicating polio. But there is much more to do. Until polio is eradicated everywhere it will remain a threat around the world.
There will be music, fellowship, and a brief program. The Rotary International World Polio Day livestream event shown at 6:30 PM. Be a chair, enjoy what is forecast to be a beautiful evening.
Since Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) 30 years ago, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent, from about 350,000 cases a year to just 22 cases in 2017 and 19 cases to date this year. To sustain this progress, and protect all children from polio, Rotary has committed to raising US$50 million per year in support of global polio eradication efforts. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match Rotary’s commitment 2:1. Without full funding and political commitment, this paralyzing disease could return to previously polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk.
Rotary has contributed more than US$1.8 billion to ending polio since 1985,
For more information about polio and polio eradication please visit polioeradication.org and endpolionow.org.
Tags: world polio day
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