Proclamation – “World Polio Day”

WHEREAS, Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problemsolvers who unite and take action to create lasting change in communities across the globe; and

WHEREAS, the Rotary motto, Service Above Self, inspires members to provide humanitarian service, follow high ethical standards, and promote goodwill and peace in the world; and

WHEREAS, Rotary in 1985 launched PolioPlus and in 1988 helped establish the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which today includes the World Health Organization, U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to immunize the children of the world against polio; and

WHEREAS, polio cases have dropped by 99.9 percent since 1988 and the world stands on the threshold of eradicating the disease; and

WHEREAS, to date, Rotary has contributed more than US$1.9 billion and countless volunteer hours to protecting more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries; and

WHEREAS, Rotary is working to raise an additional $50 million per year, which would be leveraged for maximum impact by an additional $100 million annually from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and

WHEREAS, these efforts are providing much-needed operational support, medical staff, laboratory equipment, and educational materials for health workers and parents; and

WHEREAS, in addition, Rotary has played a major role in decisions by donor governments to contribute more than $8 billion to the effort; and

WHEREAS, the Rotary Club of Sooke sponsors service projects to address such critical issues as poverty, disease, hunger, illiteracy, and the environment in our local communities and abroad;

Therefore, I, Maja Tait, Mayor of the District of Sooke, do hereby proclaim October 24th World Polio Day in Sooke and encourage all citizens to join me and Rotary International in the fight for a polio-free world.

Oct 24, 2019 Proclamation – World Polio Day