On Monday October 24, the Rotary Club of Kissimmee West and Rotary Club of Kissimmee Bay came together for World Polio Day, a day focused on the fight to end Polio in our world.
The Rotary Club of Kissimmee West and Rotary Club of Kissimmee Bay held a World Polio Day walk and dinner at the Kissimmee Lakefront and Big John’s Rocking BBQ where more than 30 Rotarians showed up to bring awareness to the continued fight against Polio in the world. Big John’s donated a portion of his proceeds to The Rotary Foundation to help eradicate Polio.
Annually, World Polio Day (October 24) provides an opportunity to highlight global efforts toward a polio-free world and honor the tireless contributions of those on the frontlines in the fight to eradicate polio from every corner of the globe.
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a paralyzing and potentially deadly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5. The virus spreads from person to person, typically through contaminated water. It can then attack the nervous system.
Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. Their goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever.
Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.
