On World Polio Day, 24 October 2026, the district TRF team reminds us how close the world is to eradicating polio – this year there have been only 35 cases in Afghanistan and 4 in Pakistan – and suggests how clubs and members can support END POLIO NOW.
Rotary still needs your help!
Rotary is one of the five partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), together with WHO, UNICEF, CDC and the Gates Foundation, and has contributed more than USD 3 billion to eradicating polio since 1987.
The Rotary Foundation, through its Rotarians, endeavours to raise more than USD 50 million every year, which the Gates Foundation then matches with USD 100 million – a total of USD 150 million that Rotary donates annually to WHO and UNICEF, mostly for operational support, but also for outbreak response and research.
In Rotary year 2024-25, the USD 150 million was distributed via WHO and UNICEF as follows: Pakistan received 28% and Afghanistan 25%, mainly for operational support, and 47% went to outbreak response and research.
Milestones
Back in 1987, when Rotary International made a promise to the children of the world to eliminate polio, there were over 1,000 new polio cases per week globally. Now, 39 years later, only two countries are endemic for polio: Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Rotary's global campaign began in 1979 with the immunisation of 6 million children in the Philippines. In 2025, Rotary supported 913 million vaccinations worldwide.
Recently, during a National Immunization Day in Pakistan, 400 front-line workers immunised 45 million children – all with Rotary's help, and with your help. USD 3 provides 3 polio vaccinations.
So far this year there have been 35 cases in Afghanistan and 4 in Pakistan. We are nearly there!
Rotary still needs YOUR help to continue supporting polio eradication until polio is fully eradicated – every little helps!
Although each Rotarian in our district donates USD 10 to the district through their club membership dues, please ask your club and members to consider donating again directly to The Rotary Foundation's PolioPlus programme, individually and/or through the club.
For World Polio Day on 24 October 2026, why not hold a special polio fundraising event?
How to donate
1. The simplest way to donate yourself is online at my.rotary.org: click Donate, then PolioPlus Fund.
2. Or log in to my.rotary.org, click 'Participate' in the top menu and choose 'Support our Foundation and End Polio Now'. Scroll down to 'Three actions, three minutes'; on the right, under 'Donate', you will find the DONATE NOW button.
3. A club can donate via rotary.org by credit/debit card or by bank transfer – see the separate guide on how to contribute to The Rotary Foundation for POLIO.
Thank you all – feel good about your contribution to eradicating polio!
Yours in Rotary, your District TRF Team
Questions: PDG Irena Brichta, irena.brichta@rotary2240.org, +420 602 200 882
