More than $51 million was granted to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria, the remaining polio-endemic countries, where completing eradication has been most difficult. While Nigeria has been polio-free for almost two years, Pakistan and Afghanistan had 33 wild poliovirus cases last year, and have had 30 cases so far in 2019.
“We have the wild poliovirus cornered in the smallest geographic area in history,” Rotary’s International PolioPlus Chairman, Michael McGovern, said. “Rotary is doubling down on our commitment to end polio for good.” So far, Rotary has contributed $1.9 billion to the polio eradication effort, plus thousands of volunteer hours by Rotarians, and the incidence of polio has been reduced by 99.9% around the world. Each day, eradication becomes closer!