24 October is World Polio Day. Poliomyelitis, or polio, is a paralysis-inducing and potentially fatal disease that still threatens children in some parts of the world. The poliovirus invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis within hours. It can strike at any age, but its victims are mainly children under the age of five. Polio can be prevented by vaccines but is not curable. Unlike most diseases, polio can be eradicated.
For more than 30 years, Rotary International, along with a number of partners, has spearheaded the effort to eradicate polio worldwide. The Polio Plus programme is the first initiative aimed at eradicating polio globally by vaccinating children on a massive scale. As a lead partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), Rotary focuses on advocacy, fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and public awareness.
A commitment and effort that over these three decades has meant that Rotary members have contributed more than 2.1 billion dollars and countless volunteer hours to protect more than 2.5 billion children, in 122 countries, from this crippling disease.
And in Pisa too, the Rotary Clubs of Pisa, Galilei, Pacinotti, Cascina-Monti Pisani and Fibonacci San Giuliano Terme have been at the forefront in promoting actions to support the PolioPlus project. On the occasion of 24 October, the five Rotary Clubs of the Tyrrhenian Two Area organised targeted initiatives that began in the morning with a press conference in the Balearic Hall of the Municipality of Pisa to illustrate the PolioPlus project and reiterate the importance of vaccination given the re-emergence of outbreaks of the disease in some areas of the world, and culminated in the evening with theillumination of the Tower of Pisa with the PolioPlus logo. In addition, specific posters were put up in all pharmacies in the city of Pisa, in collaboration with Federfarma, to promote the eradication programme and invite citizens to donate money.
The Rotary Clubs of Pisa, Pisa Galilei, Pisa Pacinotti, San Giuliano Terme and Cascina Monti Pisani, as well as the young people of the Rotaracts of Pisa and Cascina, will carry out an information and related fund-raising event in Piazza XX Settembre in Pisa, the town hall square, in support of the eradication of the disease. As a sign of Rotary's worldwide commitment to the eradication of this disease, the Rotary insignia will be displayed and the Tower of Pisa will be lit up in crimson in the evening. A short Rotary video on Polio will also be shown on the screen at Pisa's Galilei airport. On the same day, 24 October, the Rotary Polio and Now flag will be hoisted at the centre of Ponte di Mezzo and a Polio Plus banner will be placed on the balcony of the Municipality of Pisa. Afterwards, from 09.30 to 12.30, an informative banquet and contextual fundraising in favour of Polio will be placed in Piazza XX Settembre, under the Banchi Law.
