Pius Forum

As one of the last two remaining wild polio-endemic countries, Pakistan has gone a full year without a report of a single child being paralyzed by the wild poliovirus, showing us that a polio-free world is within our grasp.

We recognize the commitment of Rotary members in Pakistan and worldwide who helped make this progress possible, while remaining focused on the hard work ahead to deliver a polio-free future to all children, everywhere.

Rotary members in Pakistan play a vital role in polio eradication by raising awareness and funds, advocating with government officials, and engaging community leaders. To date, Rotary has supported polio eradication activities in Pakistan with nearly US$347 million in grants to fund health workers, vaccines, immunization campaigns, and surveillance efforts, and established health camps and water filtration plants to bring broader health services to communities.

While we reflect on our progress, we also recognize that this progress is fragile, as surveillance efforts in Pakistan have continued to detect the wild virus in environmental samples, and challenges to reaching all children with vaccines persist. Now is the time for Rotary members, government leaders, global partners, and workers at the frontline to redouble efforts and ensure no Pakistani child is paralyzed by polio ever again.

These two lemons fell off the same tree on the same day.

Not every project by a Rotary club becomes a famous, earth-shaking behemoth. Some just continue along, improving things at a steady pace and making a difference for the people they're intended to help.

Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Be glad for the fruit produced. Keep nurturing the tree.