On October 24th, in observance of World Polio Day, Palazzo Loggia in Brescia will be illuminated in red to support the Rotary’s “End Polio Now” campaign. This initiative, launched in 1988, has contributed to a 99.9% reduction in polio cases thanks to donations and the volunteer efforts of its members. However, the disease remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the number of cases has increased compared to the previous year.
In light of this concerning situation, the Polio Oversight Board of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has postponed the deadlines for certifying the eradication of the wild virus to 2027. Recently, Rotary has initiated a vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip, administering oral polio vaccine doses to nearly 560,000 children. District Governor Massimiliano Pini emphasizes the importance of continuing efforts until the virus is completely eradicated.
Italian Version
