On November 3–12, 2009 Brentwood Rotarian David Wahl and wife Karen joined a group of 38 Rotarians from across the US and Canada to take part in a polio Sub-National Immunization Day in the Kmpasse region of Benin, West Africa. The group of 50, including spouses and North American Rotarians already in-country, collectively immunized 3,313 children five years and under.

On another day, the group divided up and joined Benin Rotarians to take part in local humanitarian projects throughout the city of Cotonou. Each Rotarian present gained a first-hand look at the work of Rotary and The Rotary Foundation and its part in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative spearheaded by the World Health Organization, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Additionally, the group participated in the 5^th West Africa Project Fair showcasing humanitarian projects presented by 48 different Rotary clubs from the West African nations of Benin, Togo, Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. The 2-day event included seminars and workshops focused on Rotary’s Future Vision Plan due to take effect in the next fiscal year. The adventure, consistent with the mission of the Rotary Foundation, was to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

Although the entire Western hemisphere was declared polio free in 1994 the countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria remain endemic and if the virus is left unchallenged children everywhere remain at risk. All Rotarians are encouraged to continue their commitment to global polio eradication by remaining knowledgeable about Rotary’s historic support of this public health initiative and by participating in the PolioPlus program.

Rotarians are encouraged to direct a portion of their annual Foundation giving to help Rotary raise $200 million to match $355 million in challenge grants pledged by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The resulting $555 million will directly support immunization campaigns in developing countries where polio continues to infect and paralyze children, robbing them of their futures and compounding the hardships faced by their families.

For further information visit, rotary.org/endpolio or polioeradication.org.