Kampala, Uganda – October 24, 2025
The Rotary Club of Kampala North joined clubs worldwide to observe World Polio Day with a focused immunization outreach in Bwaise. Nurses and health workers administered oral polio vaccine to children under five, while members engaged parents on completing routine immunization schedules. The activity underscored Rotary’s steady, evidence-based drive to end polio.
“Every drop counts. Every vaccinated child moves us closer to a polio-free world.”
Rotary’s Global Commitment to Eradication
Since launching PolioPlus in 1985, Rotary International and partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) have reduced polio by 99.9% and kept eradication as a global goal. Rotary members have contributed billions of dollars and volunteer time to protect children worldwide.
Where We Stand Today
As of late October 2025, wild poliovirus remains endemic in only two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. The most recent regional bulletin reports 39 WPV1 cases in 2025 — 9 in Afghanistan and 30 in Pakistan. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Uganda’s Polio Status
Uganda is free of wild poliovirus and is part of the WHO African Region certified free of wild polio in 2020. The country last detected imported wild poliovirus in 2010; continued surveillance and vaccinations have helped maintain this status, with campaigns strengthening protection against any variant detections. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
“Ending polio requires persistence — and sustained routine immunization is what keeps Uganda safe.”
District 9213 & 9214 World Polio Day Activities
Rotarians from Districts 9213 (Uganda) and 9214 (Uganda & Tanzania) marked World Polio Day with community awareness, recognition of club giving to The Rotary Foundation’s PolioPlus Fund, and child immunization efforts — reinforcing the regional commitment to finish the job.
How Member Support Translates to Vaccines
Member contributions to PolioPlus fund the vaccines, cold chain, frontline workers, and surveillance that make immunization days possible. On average, it costs about US$3 to fully protect a child against polio (vaccine plus delivery). :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
“Your PolioPlus gifts become vaccine vials, health workers, and protected children.”
Service Above Self — Steady and Practical
The Bwaise outreach reflects Rotary’s practical approach: partner with health professionals, reach families where they are, and keep coverage high until the world is free of polio.