Breaking news ! We did it. Africa declared Polio free on 25th August 2020

Posted by Sharon Hamilton

We did it ! Africa has been declared polio free, This is monumental news !

After 4 years of there not being a single case of wild polio, the African region has been certified free of wild poliovirus.

This is a monumental achievement and one that Rotarians around the world will be celebrating.

The worldwide elimination of polio has been Rotary's top priority.

Now 5 of the 6 World Health Organization's regions, which represent over 90% of the world's population, are free of the wild poliovirus.
Rotary members still have a critical role to play in keeping the African region free of wild poliovirus and eliminating the virus in the two remaining countries (Afghanistan and Pakistan) where polio remains endemic.

Rotary has contributed over $1.5 billion to the eradication effort and over one million Rotarians have donated their time and personal resources to end polio.

Polio usually affects children under five, sometimes leading to irreversible paralysis. Death can occur when breathing muscles are affected.
There is no cure but the polio vaccine protects children for life.

The job is not finished. These efforts must continue to prevent wild polio from returning and to end all forms of polio for good – both in Africa and globally. #rotaryinternational #endpolionow