Hello Everyone,
 
Happy October!
 
As a Rotarian, when I think of the October calendar, I think of World Polio Day-October 24.
 
Polio eradication was significantly affected this year with the announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the African region is now free of the wild poliovirus. 
 
However, polio caused by the wild virus is endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to the Rotary International website, to eradicate polio, multiple high-quality immunization campaigns must be given priority. “ Even during  the Covid-19 pandemic, it is necessary to keep children vaccinated against polio while also protecting health workers from Covid-19 and making sure they don’t contribute to its transmission.”
On October 24, Rotarians will focus on World Polio Day.
 
Please go to https://www.endpolio.org/world-polio-day.  At this site, you can download the World Polio Day toolkit, register your club's World Polio Day event or find a World Polio Event to attend.
 
In addition, according to the Rotary International Facebook page, on October 24 Rotary International‘s World Polio Day Online Global Update will be streamed around the world. Please go to this website to attend: http://www.endpolionow.org/world-polio-day
 
The theme for World Polio Day is “A win against polio is a win for global health.”  The program will provide an update on Rotary and our partners’ polio eradication efforts, and will focus on how investment in polio eradication is critical for our global health initiatives, such as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
Please consider raising funds as a club for End Polio Now and presenting End Polio Now news to your club during October.   There are many resources available as listed on https://www.endpolionow.org/world-polio-day.
 
In the words of Rotary International President Holger Knaack, “we must fulfill our promise that we made to the children of the world.”
 
Yours in Rotary,
DG Linda
District Governor 2020-2021
Rotary District 7120