World Polio Day 15 October 2026
Rotary Club of Ajax participates in worldwide activities to eradicate polio. This year will be no exception
Rotary International's drive to eradicating polio worldwide has been a long standing commitment. World Polio Day on October 15 gives us a chance to reflect on the progress we have made and the work yet to be done.
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a paralyzing and potentially deadly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of five. The virus spreads from person to person, typically through contaminated water. It can then attack the nervous system. At one time it was a major health issue throughout the world and until the development of an effective vaccine in the 1950s, people afflicted by it facing life altering circumstances.
With the advent of the vaccine, polio became a thing of the past in the developped world, and through the efforts of Rotary International since 1979, vaccination efforts have spread throughout the rest of the globe, to the point where only small numbers of people are being afflicted in remote regions of the world such as Afghanistan or Pakistan. Collectively Rotarians worldwide including members of our club have contributed billions of dollars to these efforts, often matched by third party philanthropists such as Bill Gates.
Every year, Rotarians worldwide mark the ongoing battle with events large and small. Representatives of our club will be participating in Durham Region and Town of Ajax flag raisings, as well as hosting polio survivors at a future meeting. There will also be a District event on World Polio Day, a live broadcast from Durham College where representatives of many District 7070 clubs will gather to watch presentations.
For the latest on RI's efforts to combat polio, please visit RI's Ending Polio page.
