Eat up to eradicate polio

LAST week, the World Health Organisation marked twenty-one years since the European region became wild poliovirus-free.

But the endemic wild poliovirus type one is still impacting communities in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where there are five cases, and one case respectively.

in response, Rotary International’s End Polio Now initiative continues to aim to eradicate the disease and fund ongoing community-based health workers, equipment, and transport.

As part of a fundraising campaign, Alfredton Rotary members are hosting a local Meal to End Polio this Saturday 1 July.

Rotarian, Jill Oliver, said discussions about the End Polio Now program at the recent Rotary International Convention in Melbourne have inspired the event.

“World Polio Day is not until October, so we thought, let’s do something straight away,” she said.

“Rotary has been working for 35 years trying to get rid of polio, and there is a big push by the current world president to act.

“We are hoping that this year might be the year that we eradicate it, but we also need to continue fundraising to keep immunising children. It costs $3 to fully protect a child.”

The Meal to End Polio will be held at P Frangos and Sons on Saturday 1 July at 6.30pm, with the ticket price of $100 for a two-course Greek dinner. All funds raised will be donated to End Polio Now.

“Terry and Lee have been very kind to let us have the space on a Saturday night, which is one of their busiest nights,” Ms Oliver said.

Contact 0407 333 410 for tickets.