The Rotary Club of Antigua joins millions worldwide in marking World Polio Day 2025, reaffirming Rotary’s unwavering commitment to a world free of polio.
Polio, a crippling and potentially deadly infectious disease, once paralyzed hundreds of thousands of children each year. Since Rotary launched the PolioPlus program in 1985, global cases have been reduced by over 99%, with only a few remaining in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This remarkable progress represents one of the most successful global health initiatives in history.
Rotary’s contribution to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)—in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—has surpassed US$2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours. Every dollar donated to the End Polio Now campaign is matched two-to-one by the Gates Foundation, tripling the impact of contributions from individuals and clubs worldwide.
Locally, the Rotary Club of Antigua, under the leadership of President Elisa Graham, continues to champion this mission through community awareness, fundraising, and education. President Graham emphasized the importance of sustained action:
“Until polio is eradicated everywhere, every child remains at risk. Our message is simple: no child should ever suffer from polio again.”
As part of the local observance, the Rotary Club of Antigua, in collaboration with the Rotaract Club of Antigua, Interact Club of St. Joseph Academy, and Interact Club of Christ the King High School, hosted a Purple4Polio Cardio Kickboxing and Karobics Session. Led by Kreative Fitness, this high-energy event brought together Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, and community members in a vibrant show of unity and fitness for a cause. Proceeds from the session support Rotary’s End Polio Now initiative.
World Polio Day reminds us that while the finish line is in sight, vigilance and commitment are essential. Rotary urges all citizens to contribute by donating, advocating, or spreading awareness to help ensure that no child, anywhere, ever faces polio again.
