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End of polio needs last minute push John Curry john.curry@metroland.com
EMC news - The world is close, oh, so close to seeing the end of polio. Worldwide cases are at an all time low, just 123 so far this year, down from 333 cases at the same time last year. But eradicating polio in the world may slip through the world’s fingers and flare up again unless there is a last minute push to provide the vaccines and resources necessary to complete the world wipeout of polio. This was the warning given to members of the Rotary
Club of Ottawa – Stittsville at the Club’s meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 4 by d’Arcy Lunn who is touring Canada on behalf of the Global Poverty Project, a United Nations public education initiative launched in 2008 which has inaugurated “The End of Polio” campaign. Right now, there are just three countries where polio remains a problem – Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. India, formerly a problem country, is marking its one year polio-free anniversary, with no cases reported this year. “If you can get rid of polio in India, you can get rid of it
anywhere,” Mr. Lunn, wearing a purple t-shirt emblazoned with the slogan “The End of Polio is within reach,” told those at the Rotary meeting. And Rotary International is one of the partners with Global Poverty Project in this final push to get rid of polio in the world. Indeed, Rotary had been heavily involved in trying to eliminate polio in the world since 1994. And these efforts have been working. Since 1988, polio, a disease that has disabled millions over the years, has been reduced worldwide by 99 percent. It is that close to total elimination.
Mr. Lunn praised the Canadian government for being one of the leading supporters of polio eradication, providing millions annually in past years. But there are challenges to reaching total eradication. Some countries are reducing their fiscal support, creating a current $945 million funding gap for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Some countries have scaled back
their polio eradication efforts, creating another challenge to its continued elimination. That’s why Mr. Lunn urged Rotary Club members to get the story of polio eradication out in the community so that people will let the federal government know that they want a world without polio. In addition, donations to Rotary International’s PolioPlus fund will help, especially since this can result in matching fund-
ing from organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Mr. Lunn said that even small actions taken by lots of people can create big results, resulting in a polio free world everywhere and forever. Over 2.5 billion children have been immunized against polio. This has prevented more than eight million children having to live with lifelong paralysis or suffer death.
Rotary Club will match donations to end polio Special to the News
EMC news - You can help with the final push to get rid of polio in the world by making a financial contribution to the Rotary Club of Ottawa – Stittsville. This will not only see your donation directed to help in the final push to eradicate polio in the last three countries in the world where it is epidemic, namely Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan, but also will see your donation matched by the Rotary Club. So you will get double the impact with your donation. Members of the Rotary Club of Ottawa – Stittsville have personally committed to donating $1,600 to the cause as matching dollars for contributions received from members of the community. So, if members of the community
collectively donate $1,600, then the Rotary Club members will match this, doubling the amount that goes to polio eradication. If the community, so known for its generosity, exceeds this $1,600 in donations, the Rotary Club members will match the first $1,600 donated. In addition to your donation being matched by Rotary Club donations, all donations of $20 or more will be issued an income tax receipt. So you win all around. Those wishing to donate to help eradicate polio in the world once and for all should send cheques to 28 Renshaw Avenue, Stittsville, Ont. K2S 1G9. The cheques should be made payable to the Ottawa Stittsville Rotary Club. For more information, please contact Rotary Club member Leo Maiorino at 613-371-6975.
Stittsville Legion supporting fundraising BBQ at Giant Tiger
JOHN CURRY/METROLAND
Rosemary Brummell, right, of the Rotary Club of Ottawa – Stittsville presents a gift of appreciation to d’Arcy Lunn, left, of the Global Poverty Project and its “The End of Polio” campaign who made a presentation to the Club at its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 4.
Barb Vant’Slot Special to the News
Everyone is invited to support a Royal Canadian Legion and community fundraiser BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Giant Tiger in Stittsville. The BBQ will be supporting the Royal Canadian Legion campaign to address the problem of homeless or destitute veterans, a campaign known as “Leave the Streets Behind.” The problem is compounded by veterans themselves who sometimes are too proud to ask for needed assistance. Sobey’s and a number of other businesses are supporting this program. The Stittsville Concert Band supported by the Stittsville Legion has begun its new season. This community band welcomes players of all ages who own an instrument and would like to play for recreation. The band needs tuba, drums/percussion, tenor saxophone and French horn players. The Main & Abbott Dance Band, which is associated with the Stittsville Concert Band, has also begun its new season, rehearsing as the Concert Band does on the fourth floor of the Legion Hall. This Dance Band is looking for trombone and drum players. Anyone interested should contact Christine at c.philipson@sympatico.ca. Randy Reid has been in the Heart Institute but hopes to be home soon. Cori Nash has broken her leg. We hope both Randy and Cori get well soon. The Friday lunch BBQ’s at the Legion Hall are now over for the year. Thanks go to everyone who helped out with these BBQ’s and also to everyone who turned out and enjoyed these great lunches. Euchre is played every Tuesday starting at 1:15 p.m. at the Legion Hall. There is also euchre played every Thursday starting at 7:30 p.m. which is being held in the downstairs lounge at the Legion Hall until the end of November. The dart nights are filling up. Anyone in the community who is interested in playing on either Thursday or Friday nights should sign up so that the teams can be formed. The darts are starting this week. Everyone in the community is welcome to participate. These are “fun” darts nights with beginners very welcome. Cost is only $4 per night.
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Stittsville News EMC - Thursday, September 13, 2012 13