Rotary Club of Brunswick honors World Polio Day, October 24, 2022
 
On Monday, October 24, 2022, the Rotary Club of Brunswick joined Rotary Clubs around the world to raise awareness for the fight against polio. This date is special because it marks the birthday of Jonas Salk who led the first team to develop a polio vaccine. Until this year, there had not been a reported case of polio in the united States for more than 30 years. It is more important now than ever to help Rotary with its goal to eradicate polio around the world. Global organizations urge parents and guardians to vaccinate their children against this disease as there is no other treatment for this disease other than vaccination.
 
Members of the Brunswick Rotary Club will have a year long effort to raise awareness of they frightful disease as well as raising funds to support the Rotary International led effort to eradicate polio. A huge support has been provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which is matching the funds raise by Rotarians in the End Polio Now Campaign.
 
According to Rotary International, at the end of the 1960’s, more than 350,000 were paralyzed by polio every year. Today, Rotary and its partners have reduced the incidence of polio by 99.9 %. Wild polio virus remains endemic in only two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Smallpox is the only human disease ever eradicated, and it is Rotary’s goal to make polio the second.
 
“We are passionate about Rotary’s fight against polio, and want to show our community that we are willing to work hard to raise the funds to help end polio, but also have some fun while doing it” (Claudia Frost a member of the Brunswick Rotary Club and the current District Governor) says.
 
Caption: Rotarians wore red and red pins for World Polio Day to our Oct. 24 meeting.