RCAA Raises Funds to Support Global Polio Eradication

The Rotary Club of Accra-Airport has held a fundraising and awareness event in Accra to support global efforts to eradicate polio.

 The event, organized as part of activities marking World Polio Day—observed annually on October 24—brought together Rotarians, community leaders, healthcare professionals, and representatives from international organizations. The occasion served as a reminder that while significant progress has been made in the fight against poliomyelitis, the mission is not yet complete.

 Rotary’s Global Campaign

Speaking at the event, District Governor Nana Yaa Siriboe described Rotary’s global campaign against polio as one of the most ambitious humanitarian efforts in modern history.

“We are the generation that can end polio forever. But we must choose to finish strong. As long as polio exists anywhere, it remains a threat everywhere,” she said.

She highlighted Rotary’s achievements through the PolioPlus initiative, launched in 1985, which has helped reduce global polio cases by 99.9 percent—from more than 350,000 cases annually in 125 countries to fewer than 25 cases today. She also noted that Africa was certified free of wild poliovirus in August 2020, marking a major milestone in the eradication journey.

The District Governor outlined key priorities under the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s 2026 Action Plan, including targeted investments in high-risk regions such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, expanded vaccination strategies with the novel oral polio vaccine, stronger surveillance and laboratory systems, and nationwide immunization campaigns in endemic countries.

Despite these advances, she cautioned that a funding gap of US$1.7 billion still exists globally, urging renewed political and financial commitment to close it.

“Here in Ghana, we have done so well that we do not have any circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (CVDPV2) cases to report. But as we know, polio somewhere means the work is not yet done,” she added.

Commitment to the Cause

Kojo Nunoo, President of the Rotary Club of Accra-Airport, commended members for their unwavering dedication to Rotary’s humanitarian mission. He described the annual fundraising breakfast as a key event for generating both awareness and resources to support the global eradication drive.

 He revealed that the club had earned recognition as District 9104’s first and only 100% PolioPlus Society Club, meaning every member has pledged to contribute at least US$100 annually to Rotary’s PolioPlus Fund.

 “Our total contributions now stand at US$118,884, but our work is far from done,” Mr. Nunoo said. “As long as polio exists anywhere, it remains a threat everywhere.”

He commended healthcare workers, volunteers, and Rotarians across the world whose tireless efforts have helped vaccinate more than 2.5 billion children against polio.

 “Events like today’s are not just symbolic; they are crucial in raising vital funds, expanding awareness, and reaffirming our shared commitment to service above self,” he added.