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Rotary Clubs involved in the Four-Day Marches (in Dutch: Vierdaagse) are championing for END POLIO NOW. During the Marches, at least eight Rotary Clubs along the route of the International Four-Day Marches will be actively calling attention to the worldwide campaign END POLIO NOW.
Every year during the Marches, Rotary clubs are host to participating Rotarians and other service club members. This year, extra attention is called to the END POLIO NOW campaign, by asking participants to wear special polo shirts during the walk. This way, the Rotarians try to increase awareness of the international campaign.
For over 25 years already, Rotary has been committed to eradicating polio in children. To achieve this, Rotary cooperates closely with organisations such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF – the United Nations Children’s Fund - , the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the Dutch RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment).
The knowledge and expertise of vaccine manufacturers such as Sanofi Pasteur are invaluable in this process. Rotary has taken giant leaps forward in those 25 years and the end is now in sight.
In 1988, 1,000 new polio cases were reported every day worldwide. Now, there are less than 1,000 cases per year! Four remaining countries still have cases of polio today: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. We have won 99% of the battle. That final one percent is a difficult hurdle. The bell for the last round has been rung. We can see the finish flag, we are nearly there…
Rotarians and other interested parties can order a special END POLIO NOW polo shirt for € 10. By wearing the shirt you support the campaign and increase awareness among walkers from all over the world of the necessity of eradicating polio. Please order the shirts (stating the required size) from: programmarotaryelst@gmail.com.
On the ‘day of Elst’, the first day of the Marches, the Rotary clubs Lingewaard, Elst Over-Betuwe and Midden Betuwe-Valburg will be there to welcome you along the route. On the ‘day of Wijchen’, the second day of the Marches, the Rotary club Wijchen-Beuningen will be your hosts; on the ‘day of Groesbeek’, your hosts will be the Rotary clubs Nijmegen-Zuid and Nijmegen- Rijk van Nijmegen, and on the last day of the Marches you will be welcomed by the Rotary clubs in Cuijk.
If you require further information concerning this press release, please contact Herman Schimmel, by email: hermanschimmel@gmail.com, or by phone: 06.34.53.89.60.
In the photo, from right to left: governor D 1550 Carol Govers, Herman Schimmel, RC Elst Over-Betuwe and Ellen van der Zweep, RC Midden-Betuwe Valburg