Proclamation for World Polio Day (October 24th, 2024)

Whereas Rotary International is the world’s first and one of the largest non-profit, humanitarian service organizations around the globe with over 46,000 clubs; and,

Whereas the Rotary Club funds projects and sponsors local volunteers with community expertise to provide medical supplies, health care, clean water, food production, job training and education not millions in need, particularly in developing countries; and,

Whereas in 1985, Rotary International launched PolioPlus and spearheaded efforts with the World Health Organization, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF to immunize the children of the world against polio; and,

Whereas polio cases have dropped by 99 percent since 1988 and the world stands on the threshold of eradicating the disease; and,

Whereas Rotary International has contributed more than $3 billion CDN and countless volunteer hours to the protection of children against polio in 122 countries;

Whereas Rotary International has also played a major role in decisions by donor governments to contribute over $12 billion to the eradication of polio effort including a petition by the Arnprior Rotary Club to the Government of Canada; and,

Whereas these efforts are providing much needed vaccines, operational support, medical personnel, and laboratory and educational materials for health workers and parents; and,

Whereas the Arnprior Rotary Club will be hosting an information night to talk about the PolioPlus program with a guest speaker from Afghanistan on Monday, October 21st, 2024 starting at 7:00 PM at the Kenwood Corporate Centre; and,

Whereas the Arnprior Rotary Club flag raising will take place at the flagpole outside of Town Hall on the morning of Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024;

Now Therefore I, Lisa McGee, Mayor, do hereby proclaim October 24th, 2024 as World Polio Day in the Town of Arnprior and encourages all citizens to recognize the work of the Arnprior Rotary Club and Rotary International in their effort to eradicate polio through the End Polio Now campaign.

Lisa McGee, Mayor

Town of Arnprior