Polio fight far from over – Rotary warns as New Amsterdam club pledges US$2,500

…Assistant Governor urges sustained vaccination, public awareness and fundraising

With polio still a serious threat to children in parts of the world – despite four decades of international efforts to eradicate the disease, the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam has pledged US$2,500 towards the global campaign, as Rotarians warn that the progress achieved must not lead to complacency.
The commitment was highlighted Sunday during the club’s annual Polio Walk and Breakfast in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), held as part of activities marking World Polio Day, which was observed on October 24.
Rotary Assistant Governor for Guyana, Rafeek Kassim, told participants that although the international campaign had brought the world closer to eliminating polio, the continued circulation of the virus in Afghanistan and Pakistan meant the threat had not disappeared.
“We have made extraordinary progress, but our work is not yet finished. Today, polio remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As long as the virus continues to circulate anywhere in the world, children everywhere remain at risk,” he warned.
Kassim reminded participants of the devastating consequences of polio, particularly for children who have suffered permanent disabilities as a result of the disease. He added that the campaign was ultimately about safeguarding children’s futures and ensuring that no child, regardless of where they live or their family’s financial circumstances, is exposed to a preventable disease.
President of the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam, Keshia Da Costa, said Rotary International’s campaign against polio began in 1985 and has since mobilised billions of dollars to support eradication efforts.