How close are we to a polio-free world? What’s needed to finish the job? Can we make history together?
Join us on 23 October (TODAY) for our third annual World Polio Day event. We’ll be streaming live from New York City, so tune in at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time to watch a global status update on the fight to end polio and take part in the conversation.
Time magazine Senior Editor Jeffrey Kluger is our moderator, and UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake is a keynote speaker. The webcast features appearances by Emmy Award-winner Archie Panjabi, Grammy Award-winner Angelique Kidjo, actress Kristen Bell, WWE Superstar John Cena, The Doctors co-host Dr. Jennifer Berman, CDC Polio Eradication Branch Chief John Vertefeuille, and other special guests.
If you can’t join us live, you can still be a part of this moment in history. Share your voice online, advocate with your government, or create your own World Polio Day event.
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a paralyzing and potentially fatal disease that still threatens children in some parts of the world. The poliovirus invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. It can strike at any age but mainly affects children under five. Polio is incurable, but completely vaccine-preventable.
PolioPlus
In 1985, Rotary launched its PolioPlus program, the first initiative to tackle global polio eradication through the mass vaccination of children. Rotary has contributed more than $1.3 billion and countless volunteer hours to immunize more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. In addition, Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by donor governments to contribute more than $9 billion to the effort.
Global Polio Eradication Initiative
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative, formed in 1988, is a public-private partnership that includes Rotary, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and governments of the world. Rotary’s focus is advocacy, fundraising, volunteer recruitment and awareness-building.
Polio Today
Today, there are only three countries that have never stopped transmission of the wild poliovirus: Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Less than 370 polio cases were confirmed worldwide in 2014, which is a reduction of more than 99 percent since the 1980s, when the world saw about 1,000 cases per day.
Challenges
The polio cases represented by the remaining one percent are the most difficult to prevent, due to factors including geographical isolation, poor public infrastructure, armed conflict and cultural barriers. Until polio is eradicated, all countries remain at risk of outbreaks.
Ensuring Success
Every dollar Rotary commits to polio eradication will be matched two-to-one by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation up to $35 million a year through 2018. These funds help to provide much-needed operational support, medical personnel, laboratory equipment, and educational materials for health workers and parents. Governments, corporations and private individuals all play a crucial role in funding.
Rotary in Action
More than one million Rotary members have donated their time and personal resources to end polio. Every year, hundreds of Rotary members work side-by-side with health workers to vaccinate children in polio-affected countries. Rotarians work with UNICEF and other partners to prepare and distribute mass communication tools to reach people in areas isolated by conflict, geography, or poverty. Rotary members also recruit fellow volunteers, assist with transporting the vaccine, and provide other logistical support.
‘This Close’ Campaign
Rotary has a growing roster of public figures and celebrities participating in its “This Close” public awareness campaign, including Bill Gates, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actress Archie Panjabi, action star Jackie Chan, golf legend Jack Nicklaus and South Korean pop-star Psy. These ambassadors help educate the public about polio through public service announcements, social media and public appearances.
Pakistan - No new Polio cases reported in Pakistan this week. Thirty-eight Polio cases have been reported in 2015 compared to 205 at this time last year. Three new Polio-positive environmental samples were collected this week.
Thirty-eight Polio cases reported in 2015 with 306 cases recorded in 2014 The most recent case was reported on 09/16/15 from Peshawar.
Afghanistan - No new Polio cases reported in Afghanistan this week. Three new Polio-positive environmental samples were collected this week. National Immunization Days to take place Nov. 1-3 using trivalent OPV.
Thirteen Polio cases reported in 2015 with 28 cases recorded in 2014. The most recent case was reported on 09/06/15 from the Nangarhar Province.
Post Endemic - Nigeria - Zero Polio cases reported in 2015 with 6 cases recorded in 2014. The most recent case was reported on 7/24/14.
Importation Countries:
Ethiopia (1 case in 2014), Cameroon (5 cases in 2014), Somalia (5 cases in 2014), Iraq (2 cases in 2014), Syria (1 case in 2014), & Equatorial Guinea (5 cases in 2014) - all report no Polio cases in 2015.
Dr. Hamid Jafari, Director of Global Polio eradication Operations and Research from the World Health Organization, updates the Rotary International convention audience in São Paulo, Brazil on polio eradication efforts.
E-club Rotarian Adriane Miller formed an arts and crafts group in The Woodlands, TX, to connect ladies who love to use their creativity for the good of the humanity. They meet twice a month to craft beautiful things while having enjoyable discussions. Their latest project is a wonderful effort to help a non-profit organization called Little Dresses For Africa, whose mission is to provide relief to children throughout the continent of Africa and beyond. Adriane’s group recently made 72 dresses out of pillowcases to girls in African villages who are in orphanages, hospitals and areas of extreme poverty who have nothing but rags to wear. The initial goal was to make 50 dresses, but they are happy to have surpassed this number and eager to continue on. They will now make shorts for boys, sanitary pads (sani-panties) for women and continue making the adorable little dresses. The boxes are sent to Michigan’s Little Dresses for Africa headquarters and from there shipped to Africa and other places. Adriane says “Every time I'm making a dress I am picturing a little girl’s smile when she puts it on. It fills my heart with love and hope. We all feel the same way. When these boxes of dresses are opened in Africa I think there will be a lot of good energy spreading in the air.”
One photo shows the girls in Africa wearing dresses sent from other groups. The other photo shows our group of Brazilian ladies happy to give hope to the children in Africa with the first 72 dresses. From left to right: Marcia Monus, Christiane Andrade, Adriane Miller, Monica Lucena, Rosangela Xavier, Maria Elisa Murad, Mariza Videla, Janina Silva and Myriam Cury. Others not shown on the photo are also helping with their sewing abilities or with material and money donations.
To know more about Little Dresses for Africa and their ongoing projects, please go to littledressesforafrica.org.
E-club members, please tells us about the community services you are involved in so we can publish your Service Above Self efforts and inspire others.
A Rotary “flame” was launched in Chennai, India, in December, 2014 to commemorate India becoming polio-free and to promote the need to go the last mile in the battle to eradicate this horrible crippling disease. The torch has made its way through Rotary countries, and passed through all three polio endemic countries – Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria – before arriving at the 2015 Rotary Convention in São Paulo.
Just like an Olympic torch relay, this flame shines light on the great humanitarian service Rotary has done by taking on the challenge to eradicate polio. It is inspiring to be part of the flame’s journey as it comes to the Rotary e-Club of Houston’s “Party to End Polio.” Come to our celebration on November 21st and As an feel the energy the “flame” has to focus our efforts on polio awareness.
Come to the “Party to End Polio” on November 21st and get your photo taken with “the flame” while bringing pledges to help eradicate polio. To learn more about how to help our efforts see: http://www.endpolio.org/take-action
Remember, for as little as US60 cents, a child can be vaccinated against polio for life. Your donation now works even harder. From 2013 to 2018, every US dollar Rotary commits to polio eradication will become three dollars, thanks to a 2-to-1 match from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Register for the “Party to End Polio” at www.rotaryeclubhouston.org.
Send your pledges to PDG Ed Charlesworth at charlesworth@stresscontrol.com
Rotarian Cristal Montanez Baylor, Executive Director of the Hashoo Foundation USA and Rotary Houston e-Club member, shared the following:
Thanks to The Second Wind Foundation, Rotary Books for the World Program and the hard hard work of all the Rotarians committed to promote education and literacy, Hashoo Foundation and Rotary Clubs in Pakistan are advancing in this important task.
We are still sorting and classifying books from the last 5 containers. I will keep you posted of the distribution of these books. Also, 45 school desks have been donated to the Rotary Pakistan Literacy Mission Karachi.
Rotary books for the world program’s project following activities has accomplished.
1. We are searching new educational institutions and organizations with help of Rotary clubs across Pakistan.
2. Container # 1 70% of books have been dispatched to regional offices (ROG and ROC), regional team will distribute books among organizations and they will share report on it.
3. Container # 2 100% books unloaded from container to distribution center, where volunteers will sort books for further distribution
4. Next week we will handover school desks to Rotary club, these school desks will be received by Dr Pervez Ahsan and Mr Masrur on behalf of Rotary Pakistan Literacy Mission.
5. Container #3, 4 and 5 will start work accordingly.
The containers were shipped to the Islamabad port.
What is AmazonSmile? Amazon.com now has a new website that allows users to pick a charity and donate .5% of every purchase to it. The above information is needed to register to pick our Rotary e-Club Houston. PDG Ed Charlesworth says, "I had to go to the charity # since it did not show up with my "rotary" key word choices, but found it. We need to capitalize all letters in USA.." Thanks goes to Wind Nguyen and Mike Miller for this accomplishment. Those purchases you make on Amazon can bring valuable dollars to our club to be spent on charities.
Space Center Rotary Club's annual fundraiser, Shrimporee, will be held at Clear Lake Park on NASA Parkway Saturday, October 24 (11am-4:00pm)
This year's Shrimporee will be the best ever, with educational, interactive presentations that will intrigue kids and educate parents. Each year, the Shrimporee is Space Center's major event, lots of food & beverages, shrimp and BBQ brisket lunch, live and silent auctions, entertainment, games for the kids and fellowship.
The event is free; meals are $15 each.
Raffle tickets for outstanding items are available for $10 each, 6 for $50.
Our most eventful of all our quarterly trips will be held December 6-7, 2015 when we not only visit inpatients and host a dinner for outpatients and their families on Sunday, but for this December trip only, we also set up a Christmas free PX (Post Exchange/Military Store), a drawing, and serve a breakfast on Monday morning for our injured and ill military who are patients there at SAMMC. This breakfast will also be provided for our volunteers.
As in the past, OME Officers, Directors, and volunteers will be asked to pay for their dinner on Sunday afternoon, which will be $12.00 per person. OME will cover the cost for all Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen and their families in attendance.
The free PX donations of all-new goods continue to flow in from a very generous donating public, and we pray that this will require our usual two 26' U-Haul trucks plus p/u trucks to transport all the goods that are being collected!
If you know of anyone or any group that is interested in holding a drive for us, the items that we still need the most are: toys (new only!), diapers & baby wipes, clothing (kids and adults--new only!), personal care items, and laundry detergent. Loading of the 2 U-Haul trucks will take place on Friday, December 4, 2015.
Mission of Operation Military Embrace: Remembering Vietnam, "OME" is dedicated to ensuring that OIF (Iraq) and OEF (Afghanistan) veterans and all who served during this period of war are not treated with hostility and disrespect as were those who served with honor and distinction in Vietnam. Operation Military Embrace, a Christ-centered 501(c)(3) military-support charity, achieves this objective through the grace of God by working to increase public awareness regarding the challenges faced by America's military & their families while providing financial assistance, direct support via the nation's only free PX (Post Exchange), and motivational activities & programs for seriously wounded, ill or injured service members & their families across all of America's combat arms for up to 10 years after EAS/discharge.
Donations may be made online or checks can be made payable to "OME" and mailed to:
Herbert J. Taylor, author of The 4Way Test, started the Association in 1959 to promote the Test's use in communities around the world. Much of this growth was, and is, spearheaded by Rotarians. Today, the Test sits on the desks of millions of business and professional leaders around the world.
The 4Way Test has been translated into more than 100 languages. These four questions open up communication channels. THE 4WAY TEST...24 words that canCHANGEyour life!
1.Is it the TRUTH? 2.Is it FAIR to All Concerned? 3.Will it Build GOODWILL and Better Friendships? 4.Will it Be BENEFICIAL to All Concerned?
