With polio cases having dropped by 99.9%, Rotarians and Rotaractors remain committed to the goal of polio eradication and recognize that vaccinations are the only route to achieving this goal.
At a time when the word "vaccine" elicits so much emotion, the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs in Barbados joined with the Rotary family worldwide to mark World Polio Day, October 24, 2021. The joint Clubs' activities in Barbados centred on:
- raising awareness about polio and Rotary's significant role in its eradication, via social media platforms, radio interviews and press releases,
- fundraising with the sale of End Polio Now pins,
- assisting the Ministry of Health and Wellness at a COVID-19 Vaccination Pop-Up Site, and
- a joint virtual viewing event of Rotary International's global update of the End Polio Now Campaign.
Polio and Rotary
Poliomyelitis, or polio is a potentially fatal disease that invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in hours. It can strike people of any age but mainly affects very young children. Polio can be prevented by vaccine, but once contracted, is not curable. Rotary International and its partners launched its Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1985 during a period when 1,000 children were being infected each day with polio. The initiative recorded a 99.9% decrease in polio cases from approximately 350,000 cases in 1988 (in 125 countries) to 129 cases in 2019, and a spend of US$6.1 billion. Rotary's target is to raise $50 million each year to support this initiative.
Video on 'Vaccine innovation: novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2)'
COVID Vaccination Pop-Up Site
Rotarians and Rotaractors from clubs in Barbados assisted the Ministry of Health and Wellness at a pop-up vaccination site as part of the Clubs' World Polio Day activities, on Sunday October 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Persons from the community were encouraged to come and be vaccinated of which over 200 individuals were vaccinated. Rotarians also took the opportunity to share information about polio and Rotary.
Video: COVID Vaccination Pop-Up Site
Joint Virtual Viewing
The World Polio Day's activities culminated with the joint virtual viewing of Rotary International's global update on the End Polio Now Campaign. The Rotary and Rotaract Clubs in Barbados fellowshipped via a Zoom meeting that included presentations from DG District 7030 Sonya Alleyne, Presidents of the Rotary Club of Barbados, Rotary Club of Barbados West, and Rotary Club of Barbados South, Robin Ford, Rene Butcher and George Connolly respectively; DRR District 7030 Mario Boyce and Past President Peter Williams. The event was also streamed live on Facebook. Overall, a most satisfying day for the Rotary family!
To view a recording of the event, please click Barbados World Polio Day Viewing Event 2021
(Video recording compliments of the Rotary Club of Barbados)
Additional Reading:
(Capital Media HD 99.3 Radio Interview: President George Connolly representing Rotary and Rotaract clubs in Barbados to mark World Polio Day)