End Polio Now
For over 30 years Rotary International has been working towards the eradication of polio throughout the world. This has not just been by raising funds, but by persuading governments to do their bit, providing volunteers to help with immunisation across the world and working closely with the World Health Organisation and other similar bodies.
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Polio is now only endemic in two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan with just 22 cases reported in 2022 and only 12 cases throughout 2023. Unfortunately, 33 had been reported up to the end of August 2024 showing the need to continue to access and vaccinate all children in these two countries. 12 months later, only 4 cases had been reported in Afghanistan, but there were still 24 in Pakistan, A case was also reported in Gaza, where a ceasefire was arranged so vaccinations could take place immediately to prevent an outbreak of polio in this war torn region.
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A single vaccination costs 23 cents and the aim is to vaccinate all children up to the age of 5 in endemic and at risk countries until the disease is eradicated.
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For every dollar raised by Rotarians around the world, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matches it 2 to 1. Rotary has raised over $1.8 billion to help End Polio Now.
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The latest information from Rotary International can be found here.
In August 2019 as part of the Club's fund raising to End Polio Now, Past President and current Secretary Rotarian Bob Chadwick climbed to the top of the highest mountain in Europe, Mt Elbrus in Russia.
At our Charter Night meal in October 2019, Heather Williams, wife of our President Elect, Neil, presented a home made cake to President Ravi Sharma and District Governor Patrick Tyrell to mark RGBI's Purple 4 Polio campaign. A collection on the night raised a tidy sum.
In February 2020 Presidential Nominee Rotarian Merrilyn Chadwick travelled to Australia and climbed Sydney Harbour Bridge along with her husband Rotarian Bob Chadwick.
Her aim was to raise £1,240 to signify £1 for every mile in length of the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the two remaining endemic countries for Polio.
Merrilyn achieved her goal and when matched 2 to 1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this will allow over 18,500 children to be immunised against Polio.
Tuesday 25th August 2020
Today, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Africa region, has officially been certified free from wild poliovirus, signifying a major milestone in the battle to eradicate the disease worldwide.
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This certification has come four years after Nigeria, the last polio-endemic country in Africa, recorded its final case of wild polio and is an incredible public health achievement for Rotary members, the African region, and Rotary’s partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
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This progress is the result of a decades-long effort across the 47 countries which make up the WHO’s African region and now means that five of the six WHO regions, which represent 90% of the world’s population, will be free of polio
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Efforts to get to this momentous stage have involved millions of health workers traveling by foot, boat, bike and bus to reach children, innovative strategies to vaccinate those living among conflict and insecurity, and a huge disease surveillance network to test cases of paralysis and check sewage for the virus.
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In 1996, Rotary and our partners joined with Nelson Mandela to jumpstart Africa’s commitment to polio eradication. Since then, 9 billion doses of oral polio vaccine have been provided, averting an estimated 1.8 million cases of wild poliovirus on the continent.
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Rotary members have played an invaluable role in the effort to rid the African region of wild polio.
By raising funds for polio eradication, advocating with world governments and national and local leaders, and raising awareness, Rotarians have contributed nearly US $890 million to conquer polio in the region.
Despite this incredible public health milestone, the job to fully rid the world of polio goes on, as the virus continues to circulate in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Vaccination programmes must continue to reach every last child and strengthen routine immunisation to keep immunity levels high, so the virus does not return to Africa.
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Rotary members across Great Britain and Ireland remain committed to making the final, challenging steps towards a polio free world a reality.
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Events will be taking place across the world on 24th October, to mark annual World Polio Day.
24th October 2020 - World Polio Day
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To celebrate World Polio Day, raise awareness of the End Polio now campaign and to raise vital funds for the the immunisation of children in the 'at risk' countries, 8,000 crocus corms were purchased by Rotary Rochdale and planted across our our town.
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President Neil Williams was joined by his wife Heather and Past Presidents Irene Davidson and Bob Chadwick along with members of Pennines in Bloom to plant around 1,000 bulbs alongside the Rochdale Canal in Littleborough.
The President then sped across to lead a team including Rotarians Maureen Barker and Paul Rowen to plant bulbs in Taylor Park, Bamford with help from the Rochdale in Bloom team.
Sylvia and Selwyn's Coffee Cream Roll
Bob's Irish Chocolate Cheesecake
Heather's Black Forest Roulade
It was decided to use our annual Pudding Evening to celebrate Rotary Day 2021 and raise funds for the End Polio Now campaign. Heather Williams, wife of President Neil circulated some recipes for members to follow if they didn't have their own favourite. Puddings were then shown via Zoom at the March Friend's Evening. Heather also did a live cookery demonstration making a Chocolate Pavlova Roulade, whilst Rtn Neil Helliwell and his wife, Inner Wheel President, Nicola, tested members knowledge of puddings with 20 pictures featuring everything from Baked Alaska to Sweet Potato Cake.
Maureen's Lemon Drizzle Cake
Linda's Rhubarb and Cinnamon Tart
Margaret's Lemony Pudding
Ravi's Carrot and Cashew Cake
January 2023
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Each year Rotary Clubs purchase crocus corms to bloom with purple flowers in spring to bring attention to the End Polio Now campaign that has been running for many years. In late 2022, the Rotary Club of Rochdale donated two boxes of corms to the Rochdale In Bloom organisation. They in turn with with several groups in the borough to plant them. Here are some pictures of the people in action.
The groups involved with the planting were Springhill Hospice, Petrus Community Garden, Kingsway Dementia Support Group and Social Prescribing in Kirkholt.
February 2024
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To celebrate World Polio Day albeit belatedly, members and friends enjoyed a 3-course meal at the Waterside Restaurant. Over £300 was raised, which when matched 2:1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, was enough to provide 4,500 vaccines against Polio.​​​
September 2025
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Working to Eradicate Polio The Rotary Foundation’s Board of trustees recently approved $50 million in new grants to the Polio Eradication Initiative. Both the World Health Organisation and UNICEF have expressed their appreciation for the work of Rotary, and our efforts to raise funds for the campaign.
We should be very proud indeed of the outstanding contribution that Rotary has made toward a significant improvement in global health. But - the final phase of the polio eradication effort has proven to be the toughest.
“the virus continues to spread in some of the most difficult places on the planet to deliver healthcare – places that face persistent insecurity, political instability and weak health infrastructure. This context limits families’ access to formal health services and hinders health workers’ tireless efforts to reach every child with life-saving vaccines, including for polio.”
Update from the Global Polio Initiative on programmatic challenges and accountability on 7 August 2025
Funds are being used to improve surveillance systems in Nigeria, to provide support for the efforts to vaccinate every child in Pakistan and Afghanistan and to provide resources to assist in the task of dealing with polio outbreaks. And - the $50 million raised by Rotary is matched 2-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation increasing the resources available to carry out the work of the Global Polio Initiative.
It is perhaps worth explaining that every year, the funds raised for the End Polio Now campaign are allocated to the work of the Global Polio Initiative. The sums raised are matched by the Gates Foundation, and then in a set of meetings with UNICEF and the World Health Organisation the funds are allocated to projects. The use of our contribution is closely monitored to ensure that every dollar is used effectively, and the oversight arrangements are exhaustive.
The Independent Monitoring Board which reviews the work of the Global Polo Initiative, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation, and the Emergency Committee – part of the International Health Regulations – all ensure that the operations on the ground are effective and efficient. Ultimately the World Health Assembly oversees this work.
In short, the Global Polio Initiative is one of the most closely monitored and appraised global health programmes in operation. And this is why we can say with complete confidence that every dollar raised for PolioPlus makes a difference. On the back of recommendations from this process of oversight, there have been improvements in monitoring systems, the development of more effective strategies on the ground including initiatives to work with women in communities where they play a vital social role. And the systems created as part of the work funded through PolioPlus have been employed to combat other diseases – including Covid.