Rotary Reaffirms Its Commitment To Sustaining India's Polio-Free Status & Supporting Global Polio Eradication

In a display of unity and determination for a polio-free world, the Rotary Club of Bombay and the India National Polio Plus Advisory Council organized "A Thousand Voices" in Mumbai. This awareness initiative saw 1,000 schoolchildren converge to form a human chain spelling out "END POLIO NOW". The event was hosted at Shivaji Shikshan Sansthan English Medium School in Ghatkopar, with Rotarians, including Nominee President Dr Bharat Pandya, as the chief guest.

The display aimed to underscore the need for ongoing immunisation, public awareness, and collective action to prevent any Indian child from contracting polio. Rotary International President Nominee Dr Bharat Pandya, alongside fellow Rotarians, District Governor Rajan Dua, and representatives from the India National Polio Plus Advisory Council, highlighted the success of India in being polio-free since the last case in 2011.

However, vigilance remains crucial as the virus still persists in neighboring Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Rotary's initiatives like "A Thousand Voices" aim to inspire future generations to become advocates of public health, ensuring that the risk of reintroduction is constantly monitored. The Rotary Indian National PolioPlus Committee and its Advisory Council continue to play a pivotal role in advocacy, community mobilisation, and strengthening support for vaccination.

The message from Rotary is clear: India must maintain its polio-free status through continued vigilance, while the global campaign to eradicate polio must persist until no child anywhere is affected by this disease.