The PolioPlus and Polio Awareness Sub-Committee promotes and supports both the PolioPlus / Gates Challenge and raising the awareness of the importance of immunisation in New Zealand.

PolioPlus, the most ambitious programme in Rotary’s history, is the volunteer arm of the global partnership dedicated to eradicating polio. For more than 20 years, Rotary has led the private sector in the global effort to rid the world of this crippling disease. Today, PolioPlus and its role in the initiative is recognized worldwide as a model of public-private cooperation in pursuit of a humanitarian goal. Since the programme’s inception in 1985, more than two billion children have received the oral polio vaccine.

In addition to providing financial and volunteer support, Rotary works to urge support from other public and private sector partners. This includes the campaign to End Polio Now, inspired by the extraordinary challenge grants received from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Rotary’s US$200 Million Challenge is the Rotary Foundation’s response to the two grants totaling US$355 million from the Gates Foundation to help eradicate polio. Every dollar given to PolioPlus will be counted toward the US$200 million match, which must be completed by 30 June 2012.

Clubs have been urged to make a pledge to assist meeting the Gates Challenge, in addition to their regular annual contributions to The Rotary Foundation.

Additionally, Rotary in New Zealand is working with National Public Health Authorities to raise awareness in the community of the importance of continuing the immunisation of children in New Zealand against the threat of poliomyelitis.

District PolioPlus and Polio Awareness Sub-Committee

Convenor	Don Battah (Lynda) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Eastern Hutt
	Henry Davies (Di) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Wellington North
	Fiona Illingsworth This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it /a>	Mt Victoria
PolioPlus National Advocacy Advisor for NZ	PDG Stuart Batty JP This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it