Rotary International’s Leadership In Polio Eradication Efforts Serves As Example For Global Community

Medium: Thinking Locally and Acting Globally: The Amazing Legacy of Rotary International
Chris Elias, president of global development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

“…Today, thanks to the hard work and the leadership of more than a million Rotarians around the world, we are rapidly approaching one of the greatest achievements in human history: the eradication of polio. … As the world nears the end of the fight against polio, it’s fitting that we return to the same forum that launched Rotary’s global focus on eradication: the annual Rotary International Convention … [Monday], I joined Rotarians at the convention, and it’s clear to me that they remain as fiercely committed as ever to seeing the end of this disease. … While some in Washington today are urging cuts in foreign aid  –  investments that amount to less than one percent of the U.S. budget  –  these new pledges [of $1.2 billion made at the conference] send a strong signal to the world: investing in children’s health is worth it and makes us all better off. And there is so much more we can accomplish by continuing to support critical programs. In fact, we can reduce child deaths another 50 percent by 2030 if the United States and other governments continue to invest in vaccines, maternal and newborn health, and the prevention and treatment of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria…” (6/12).

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