Senior leaders are still confident of breaking wild polio virus transmission by the end of 2023 – and claiming total victory over polio by the end of 2026!

Article by PDG Bob Aitken, Rotary End Polio Now Coordinator

Rotary International’s PolioPlus chair Mike McGovern reports progress with latest vaccination campaign in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The campaign, which commenced in early November, aims at vaccinating 10 million children in Afghanistan and 40 million in Pakistan.

Mike McGovern attended a meeting of vaccination campaign leaders in Islamabad, Pakistan last week. He said the World Health Organisation Regional Director reported that whilst there was less ‘house to house’ activity than planned, vaccination teams did cover the Kanduz province where the two new cases of wild polio virus were discovered in October.

Intensive surveillance continues in both countries and whilst all data is not in yet, preliminary reports are good.

These positive reports from this most challenging area for Rotary’s END POLIO NOW campaign provide real encouragement for Rotary Clubs and Districts around the world to continue fund raising and promotional activity.

Senior leaders are still confident of breaking wild polio virus transmission by the end of 2023 – and claiming total victory over polio by the end of 2026!