World Polio Day 2016

What is polio and why celebrate World Polio Day? Polio (poliomyelitis) is a viral disease usually found in children which causes total paralysis and sometimes death.  It is incurable but can be prevented through vaccination. Thus, in 1985, Rotary launched the PolioPlus program, the first initiative to tackle global polio eradication through mass vaccination. The advocacy efforts displayed by the organization have played a major role in the decision making of donors and government agencies. As a result, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was formed in 1988, a partnership involving Rotary, World Health Organization, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and governments worldwide. The initiative focuses on advocacy, fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and awareness building. To date, there are only three (3) countries remaining with reported polio cases, namely: Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan. In 2015, less than seventy-five (75) cases were confirmed worldwide—a reduction of more than 99.9% since the program began. The remaining one percent is always the most challenging to overcome. Due to factors such as geographical isolation, poor public infrastructure, armed conflict, and cultural barriers, there is always the possibility of an outbreak. These conditions are the reason why Rotary and its partners continue to spread awareness and raise funds to end polio. As part of the initiative to spread awareness and report real time updates regarding the movement  against polio, Rotary established the World Polio Day which is celebrated annually every 24th of October, in commemoration of Jonas Silk’s birthday, as the person who spearheaded the development of the first polio vaccine. This year, the objective of the celebration was: “One Day. One Focus: Ending Polio.”

A livestream event organized by Rotary International was held at the CDC Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, to answer the following questions:

(1) Where are we in the fight to eradicate polio?
(2) What’s left to do?
(3) And why does it cost so much?

The questions and much more were answered by health officials from the partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary leaders and special guests ( Source: www.endpolio.org ). In addition, Rotary International encouraged everyone to host an event in their own communities as part of the celebration to which RC LB Makiling responded. The Club organized an online campaign, using social media, i.e., Facebook, as the medium, to spread awareness and direct people to watch the livestream event. On October 3, the members of the Club and its partners-in-service, i.e., Rotaract Club of Makiling and Interact Club of LBNHS Poblacion, changed their profile pictures with the “This Close” backdrop—the official public awareness campaign used by Rotary International—with the caption: “Be aware, spread the word, and contribute to the global fight to end polio. Watch the livestream event on October 24 at 6:30PM EDT for the #WorldPolioDay update. endpolio.org.” In addition, facts about polio were posted daily by everyone on their own timelines as part of the campaign. The campaign lasted the whole month of October, many people reacted to it and the Club concluded that it was successful because of the many people it reached. Despite the small effort, the Club proved that there are other ways to celebrate World Polio Day without spending money but rather donating that money instead to the Rotary Foundation.