Rotary Club of Antigua Sundown to host fundraiser to mark World Polio Day

By Tahna Weston

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A local service club is intensifying its efforts in the global fight against polio ahead of World Polio Day on October 24.

Poliomyelitis, more commonly called polio, is a virus spread from person to person usually through contaminated water. There is no cure to this disease which can attack the nervous system and, in some instances, lead to paralysis.

However, there is a safe and effective vaccine, used by Rotary, which has been championing the eradication of polio for many years and medical experts to immunize over 2.5 billion children worldwide.

The Rotary Club of Antigua Sundown (RCAS) has joined the global effort in championing the eradication of polio over several years. Reportedly those involved in the fight are closer than ever to achieving this monumental goal.

Nircree Mills-Jno-Baptiste, past president and the current foundation director of RCAS said club’s efforts to fight the disease is part of a global partnership.

“Okay, so World Polio Day is on October 24th and Rotary International has marked that day as where we observe World Polio Day and, you know, the efforts made by the various clubs, the WHO, and organisations around the world to do projects, raise funds, or hold awareness campaigns with respect to the disease.

“It’s part of a global partnership where Rotary International along with the WHO, so they have committed to donating funds annually and Bill and Melinda Gates also contribute their match that amount that is donated and they as well contribute towards the fight and the eradication of polio,” Mills-Jno-Baptiste said during an interview on Observer AM.

She added that while countries in the region, including Antigua and Barbuda, have not had cases of the disease for decades, it still exists in other parts of the world and once there is one child with the disease, all children remain at risk.

“We still continue to be vaccinated for it but again once one child remains affected — and right now in Gaza Strip, there are cases, live cases of the disease,” she added.

Assistant Governor of the club, Jonah Ormand said despite progress, the fight against polio continues and the club is seeking to tackle educational challenges about the disease.

“I wanted to say that in 1994, we in the Americas were certified that we had eliminated polio from the region but … once one child has it, there is the potential for it to spread through contaminated water and the structure of Rotary, it being an international community, it has that organisation where internationally, we can come together to raise funds, bring together capacities and to help with the campaign that was started in, if I’m not mistaken, in 1979 where we started a multi-year campaign in the Philippines and since then, it has just grown significantly.

“We had come to a point where we were up to 99.9 percent, but world events cause resurgence and conflicts or disasters might make it difficult for us to enter certain places at certain times to continue the vaccination program, but with continuous effort and recognizing the potential of negative effects that it will have on humans, particularly kids under five, we in Rotary encourage every club to make a certain donation and to raise awareness in the population to keep people aware that this is something that while we have the means to control it, we’re just one case away from it resurging,” Ormand said.

In recognition of World Polio Day Rotary Clubs worldwide make donations and raise awareness for this crucial cause. As a result, the RCAS will host a fundraising initiative as it seeks to raise money to support both their polio eradication efforts and other community projects.

The after work lime will be held at Shell Beach Bar on October 25, from 7 to 11 pm.

Ormand said the event will be a night of fun for a good cause and he emphasises the direct impact of contributions.

“I just wanted to add that every dollar that is made that evening will go into projects. We do not take any sort of fees or anything. Once we raise funds from the community, that goes back into the community. … Rotary is about not only about service, about self, but also fellowshipping while you’re doing that and building relationships. And this is a good opportunity to come out and lime with good company.

“We will have tickets at the various locations…Exotic Antigua is one, or you could call our secretary, Nicole at 774-7171, or our PI Chair Nadine at 726-6652. Tickets are also available at the door. The raffle prize is only $5. Come out and have fun. Once you come once, you will want to come again. And while this one will be guaranteed or geared rather at polio eradication, the others will be geared at other projects,” Ormand said.