Rotary Club Morimondo Abbey

In a few days, on August 11 to be exact, we will celebrate a historic milestone: an entire year without a single case of wild poliovirus in Africa.
The enormous value of this achievement cannot be underestimated. A polio-free Africa has been within reach, so close to becoming a reality, for more than a decade. The arduous effort that has brought us to this point is simply heroic: tens of thousands of health workers have reached millions of children with the vaccine, in 54 countries, facing some almost impassable conditions. Together, we accomplished something that once seemed impossible: We stopped the spread of polio in Africa.
However, while monumental, this achievement is still fragile. As long as polio exists in the two remaining polio-endemic countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the virus still has the potential to spread, causing new infections. Now, more than ever, we need the strength of Rotary to cross the finish line: not just a polio-free Africa, but a polio-free world!
Wherever you live, whether in a country that has just been freed from polio or has been polio-free for decades, we need your voice and your support. I ask you all to read and use the toolkit materials to find ways to create greater awareness in your community and elsewhere. Every Rotarian, in every Rotary club, must speak up about polio: to ensure that the media reports our progress, and to ensure that our government representatives view polio eradication as a global priority. Your work at the local level helps increase the media coverage we've seen over the past year, which in turn advances global support for polio eradication. Together, we will ensure that polio remains at the forefront of our communities and national agendas, maintaining a high level of energy and drive that will get us past our goal.
The battle in Africa has been won for now — but we must maintain the grip and strength of every Rotarian to accomplish the entire feat of End Polio Now. Together, we will end polio by living our theme: Be a Gift to the World.
Best regards,
K.R. Ravindran, President RI