KAWARTHA LAKES-In recognition of World Polio Day today, the City of Kawartha Lakes joined the Rotary Club in a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall to celebrate the tremendous progress made in the global fight to end polio, and to reaffirm their shared commitment to a polio-free world.
Rotary members across Kawartha Lakes and around the world are taking action today to raise awareness, funds, and support for the eradication of polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that continues to threaten children in some regions.
“This is a day to raise awareness of the actions we can take to continue the fight to eradicate this disease that still affects children around the world, while also acknowledging how far we have come,” said Mayor Doug Elmslie. “What is remarkable is the progress – polio cases have been reduced by more than 99% worldwide due to a collaborative and united approach that is grounded in scientific evidence and medicine. It is possible for us to eventually witness the eradication of Polio and it would a great symbol of what we can achieve when we come together and set our sights on a worthwhile goal.”
The City also extended thanks to the Rotary Club for their efforts and encourages everyone to support their events and reach out to them to find out how to get involved. Visit Rotary.org and endpolio.org for more about Rotary and its efforts to eradicate polio.
Rotary members have long worked to end the paralyzing virus, which will be only the second human disease ever to be eradicated. To sustain the reduction in polio cases worldwide and continue to reach every child with the polio vaccine, Rotary has committed to raising up to $50 million USD each year to support global polio eradication efforts. The Gates Foundation has renewed its pledge through 2029 to match that 2-to-1 for a total yearly contribution of up to US$150 million.
