All Rotarians in Great Britain and Ireland (RotaryGBI) have recently received an email from RotaryGBI detailing their response to the UK Government’s decision to withdraw, after 2026, direct funding to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
To say that this is disappointing is something of an understatement – GPEI and its partners (of which Rotary International is one) – are extremely close to the complete eradication of polio. Although two countries (Pakistan and Afghanistan) have cases, the numbers are low, due to determined efforts by health workers “on the ground”. The news of the UK decision has not made the headlines, but the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph have carried reports. The Guardian article, published on 27th March online and 28th in print, emphasised the irony of the discovery of the virus in the London water supply only days before the decision. I responded personally to the article by letter recently and was somewhat surprised to see it published in print and online.
We have been urged by RotaryGBI to continue awareness raising and fundraising. The Foundation Team have organised an event at the Winchester Science Centre on Friday 5th June on the dangers of Anti-Microbial Resistance – another important health issue. Our own Professor Kordo Saeed, a consultant microbiologist, and Danny Chambers MP (a veterinary surgeon) will speak and there will opportunities for questions and networking. All funds raised will support End Polio Now.
Bookings can be made at this link:
