World Polio Day

Rotary Celebrating a Significant Achievement

Significant because when Rotary launched its worldwide mission to eradicate Polio in 1988 there were some 350,000 cases, and 125 polio endemic countries. Significant, that for most of the world, Polio is now almost a forgotten disease.

Today, thanks to Rotary’s mission and the $2.2 billion in funding to date, that no child anywhere should suffer from this completely preventable disease, just 2 countries, namely Afghanistan and Pakistan have reported only 11 cases for 2017. With a further $1.2 billion pledged by global leaders, and Rotary’s commitment, the total eradication of polio is now so close and within sight. What a phenomenal achievement and benefit to the world!

An initiative that was first promoted and introduced by the Rotary Club of Hilton Head and then supported and funded by Rotary International’s Polio Plus Partners, Sir Emeka Offor in Nigeria, and UNICEF, the Speaking Book for Polio Education was created specifically to inform populations at risk about the absolute importance of vaccination

Grandpa Knows Best – A Story of Polio – Click image to listen in Dari

Delivered just in time for World Polio Day, Polio Plus Partners funded 7000 Speaking Books “Grandpa Knows Best; A Story of Polio” with 16 pages of easy to understand text, illustrations and a sound track recorded in Dari and Pashto are being distributed by UNICEF health workers as well as Rotary volunteers to reach the most vulnerable population with critical life saving messages

And now today, direct from UNICEF Kabul Afghanistan we were delighted to receive the following email;

“Please find attached some images of children enjoying the Speaking Books during our polio campaign in Jalalabad yesterday. The children loved the books, and most importantly, it created a sense of excitement and encouraged them to come out of their homes to be vaccinated.”

This latest delivery of Speaking Books funded by Rotary and partners in support of the End Polio Now campaign follows on from the great success of the distribution of 5000 to Pakistan, A Story of Health, and a further 15,000 “Yes to Health, No to Polio” for Nigeria. With each Speaking Book reaching multiple users, UNICEF estimate they will be seen, heard and understood by well over a million+ low literacy and vulnerable people

For further information, please contact;
Brian Julius bj@speakingbooks.com
1-843-298-1017