OAKHURST – In honor of World Polio Day, which is widely recognized on Oct. 24, the Oakhurst Sierra and Oakhurst Sierra Sunrise Rotary Clubs are holding an open house to inform the community of the crippling childhood disease, polio. The event is part of Rotary International’s 27-year mission to eradicate Polio.
The open house is at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Yosemite Bank. Appetizers will be provided and beer and wine will be available.
Rotary International’s message to world leaders is clear: support the final push to achieve eradication now while the goal has never been closer, or face the potential consequences of a new polio pandemic that could disable millions of children within a decade.
Since 1985, Rotary has contributed nearly $1.2 billion and countless volunteer hours to the protection of more than two billion children in 122 countries. The disease remains endemic in three countries — Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan — although other countries remain at risk for imported cases.
“Rotarians have been fighting to eradicate polio for almost 30 years,” says Susan Madden, Oakhurst Sierra Rotary president, “We are very close to achieving our top priority. Now is the time to act, to join this historic effort and to help us cross the finish line.”
A highly infectious disease, polio causes paralysis and is sometimes fatal. As there is no cure, the best protection is prevention. For as little as 60 cents worth of vaccine, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life. After an international investment of more than $9 billion, and the successful engagement of over 200 countries and 20 million volunteers, polio could be the first human disease of the 21st century to be eradicated.
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.
For more information, visit Rotary.org.
