Rotary members helping to eradicate cases of polio

There have only been five reported cases of polio this year, as opposed to 17 this time last year.

This comes after years of hard work by members of the Rotary to try to eradicate the disease.

Since 2002 the Rotary has donated £17,048 to combat polio, which costs just 60p per vaccine, excluding transport costs.

Rotary member, Brian Ray, said: ‘The movement started the fight to eradicate polio from the world in 1987/1988. At this time there were 300,000 cases each year.

‘We have nearly achieved our aim as there has only been one case this year so far. Not only do we raise funds but many of us, including me, have taken part in special polio immunization days in India and other parts of the world.’

This is not the only humanitarian effort that the Rotary Club of Fareham Meon is involved in, as they were also part of the effort to deliver 1,600 shoe boxes full of toys and gifts to underprivileged children.

The Rotary has also been involved with helping ShelterBox, an organisation that provides emergency shelters and vital supplies to support communities overwhelmed by disasters and crises around the world.

David Glover, ShelterBox’s Rotary liaison officer, said: ‘The Rotary Club of Fareham and Meon is one of 1,850 Rotary Clubs in the UK and Ireland. They first donated to ShelterBox in 2001 and have continued to support the work of ShelterBox by providing donations to enable ShelterBox to undertake our work worldwide.

‘The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Syria crisis, and the biggest storm to ever make landfall – Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines; we have responded to some of the largest humanitarian crises the modern world has ever known. Alongside this, we have also helped many thousands of people displaced by disasters that are not featured in the media.’

For more information visit rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=653.