HAL SALISBURY
Posted by Cindy Brown
Past District Governor Hal Salisbury speaks about Rotary's Polio Plus initiative
Photo by Michele Cleland
Photo by Michele Cleland
Hal Salisbury, member of the Daniel Island Rotary Club and former 7770 District Governor, traveled to Bluffton to share information about Polio and Rotary International's goal to eradicate the disease.
The Polio vaccine was discovered in 1953 and the last case in the United States was reported in 1979. Twenty-five years later, in 2004, the last case was reported in Europe.
In 1979 Rotary International set up a 3H (Hunger, Humanity and Health) grant to save the world's children from the debilitating disease. The first country to benefit from the campaign was the Philippines. In 1985, there were still 125 countries still in need. Twenty years later, in 2005, there were only four countries left - Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria. Sadly, recent statistics show that the disease has migrated across the borders of these four endemic countries.
In 2007 the Gates Foundation challenged Rotary International to a $100,000,000 match. The goal was achieved and the Gates Foundation issued a second challenge - $255,000,000 by 2012. Currently, Rotary International has raised over 55% ($142,000,000) toward meeting the 2012 goal.
Currently there are 618 cases in the world. We can't stop until we finish the job. This October we will have the opportunity to raise money for this worthy cause via the Heel to Toe for Polio event. See club member, Michele Cleland to see how you can get involved.
For more information on Polio, go to www.polioeradication.org
The Polio vaccine was discovered in 1953 and the last case in the United States was reported in 1979. Twenty-five years later, in 2004, the last case was reported in Europe.
In 1979 Rotary International set up a 3H (Hunger, Humanity and Health) grant to save the world's children from the debilitating disease. The first country to benefit from the campaign was the Philippines. In 1985, there were still 125 countries still in need. Twenty years later, in 2005, there were only four countries left - Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria. Sadly, recent statistics show that the disease has migrated across the borders of these four endemic countries.
In 2007 the Gates Foundation challenged Rotary International to a $100,000,000 match. The goal was achieved and the Gates Foundation issued a second challenge - $255,000,000 by 2012. Currently, Rotary International has raised over 55% ($142,000,000) toward meeting the 2012 goal.
Currently there are 618 cases in the world. We can't stop until we finish the job. This October we will have the opportunity to raise money for this worthy cause via the Heel to Toe for Polio event. See club member, Michele Cleland to see how you can get involved.
For more information on Polio, go to www.polioeradication.org