Since 1985, when the PolioPlus program was launched by Rotary International, we have never been so close to the eradication of polio in the world. After more than three decades of continuous mobilization, from vaccination teams in rural and isolated communities to international partnerships, a whole chain of professionals and donors has made it possible to vaccinate more than 3 billion children.
Winning the fight against a virus is certainly not easy, but offering all the children of the world a life without the risk of being paralyzed by this terrible virus deserves sustained efforts and strong mobilization.
Rotarians are part of this long history and contribute through their contributions, donations, international and local actions to raise funds each year.
Onward to 2026!
The good news is that 2026 is coming very soon! This is the home stretch, there are less than three years left to complete all this work. So, for a final boost, the PolioPlus Circle was launched on October 24, 2021 by Rotary International region 14, under the coordination of Michel Zaffran, member of the Rotary club Gex Divonne, former Director of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative at WHO. Region 14 unites the Rotary districts of mainland France, French-speaking Belgium, Andorra, Luxembourg and Monaco, representing 20 districts, 1,260 clubs and 38,000 Rotarians to fund the latest childhood immunization efforts. The virus will then be secured in P4 high security laboratories.
100 euros per year until 2026
This is the commitment to make, everyone, Rotarian or any other person. To date, 311 Rotarians, members of 188 clubs, have pledged to donate this sum until 2026. It is already very promising for barely two years since the launch of the Circle.
A club is currently 100% Cercle PolioPlus: The Rotary Club Ferney Voltaire with a commitment to pay 100 euros per year for each of its members until 2026. Does your club want to become 100% Cercle PolioPlus too?
It’s a great way to participate in one of Rotary’s greatest programs and mark your club membership. Wearing the PolioPlus Circle badge at all Rotary events will serve as a starting point for talking about it.
These are more than €44,000 at 1is March 2023 (which will become €132,000 with matching funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) which is secured as an annual contribution from Region 14 until 2026.
A newsletter and actions
The Cercle PolioPlus publishes at the beginning of each month alternately, a Flash Info written by Michel Zaffran and a newsletter with testimonials, articles on innovative technologies and actions carried out by the districts and clubs, posted on its website: PolioPlus officials from the 20 districts meet every two months by videoconference and once a year in Paris to take stock of membership, the evolution of the virus with the latest updated data.
Rotarians in their clubs do not lack ideas, they set up piggy banks, organize collections of empty ink cartridges, marathons, concerts, create PolioPlus postage stamps…enough to attract all types of people to contribute to the eradication of polio.
And you, join the PolioPlus Circle, it’s easy: https://cerclepolioplus.org/rejoindre/.
Contacts :
What is a PolioPlus manager?
Each district team has a PolioPlus or End polio now focal point, responsible for encouraging clubs and Rotarians to contribute to the polio eradication fund. He is also responsible for informing the clubs of the progress of the program. Their contact details are listed in the organization chart of your district.
TEXT FROM MICHEL ZAFFRAN AND VERONIQUE-INES THOUVENOT
2023-05-01 04:54:41
#POLIOPLUS #CIRCLE #POLIO
