Polio Update- RI Letter to Club Presidents

Dear Club Presidents,

The new year has begun in earnest and the Rotary year is in full swing. We take this opportunity to thank you for the work undertaken to raise awareness of our ongoing effort to End Polio Now. We were proud of the efforts made by clubs throughout Canada on and around World Polio Day. The work was recognized by Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who issued a special letter of appreciation to Rotary clubs for the longstanding and continued commitment to a polio free world and collaboration with the government of Canada toward this goal.

While World Polio Day has come and gone, our work continues, and we encourage you to continue to “beat the drum” which will raise awareness and support, including among officials and candidates as we head into an election period. Polio is an issue of common concern and that means we encourage the support of every official and every candidate, regardless of party affiliation.

 

We draw your attention to a few key upcoming opportunities when it will make sense to highlight Rotary’s role and engage officials. The first is Rotary’s 110th anniversary, 23 February. Similar to World Polio Day, we encourage you to reach out to your Member of Parliament and your community to highlight progress toward global polio eradication and the continued good work of Rotary. The attached update provides a good summary which you can use for this purpose.

We also have an excellent opportunity to highlight progress during World Immunization Week, which is the last week in April. We have a great story to tell in terms of the contributions our polio eradication efforts have made, and continue to make, in support of other public health efforts including strengthening routine immunization, reaching children – including those in conflict affected areas -  with essential health interventions beyond polio immunization, and learning how to build trust community by community. Indeed, in recognition of polio eradication efforts and Rotary’s work, we have been invited to make a presentation to Parliament’s Maternal and Child Health Caucus in mid February.

 

Last but certainly not least, we are also aware that clubs, as urged by International President Gary Huang, continue to hold Rotary Days. These continue to offer a great opportunity to highlight the work your club is doing within the community and our broader work to End Polio once and for all.

 

We remind you of the fantastic resources to support you in your work including End Polio Now Zone Coordinators, Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinators, and Rotary Public Image Coordinators, and us. Please let us know how we can help. Equally important, please let us know of any interaction you have with officials. We are keeping track of this so we can ensure we are well coordinated in our efforts.

 

We thank you for what you have done and what you continue to do to achieve our shared goal of a polio free world.

 

Yours sincerely,

Wilfrid Wilkinson

National Advocacy Advisor, Canada

 

Bob Scott

Chair Emeritus, International PolioPlus Committee