We are truly "this close" to eradicating polio.
 
This could be the year Polio is eradicated in the world, said Harry Hooyenga, District 6600 Polio Plus Committee chairman said.
Hooyenga, a member and past president of Kenton Rotary Club, told the Lima Rotary Club Monday Rotary International’s goal of eradicating Polio is within sight. The efforts are now focused on Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
In Afghanistan, 12 cases remain, while that number is 19 in Pakistan. In 2016, Polio returned to Nigeria after no cases had been seen in three years, Hooyenga said. Worldwide, the number has tumbled, from 365,000 cases in 1988 to 35 in 2016.
Hooyenga said world health experts estimate that immunizations for children will need to continue for a decade after the disease is declared eradicated.
You can learn more about Rotary International’s efforts here: https://youtu.be/1Ze0J-ABpIQ
Individual and club Polio Plus donations are multiplied now because of an anonymous matching contribution and matching funds from the Bill and Melina Gates Foundation. For example, an individual contribution of $200 ultimately becomes $1,200, enough money to immunize 2,000 children. A club donation of $3,000 becomes $18,000, enough to immunize 30,000 children. Ultimately, the effort that ends March 31 will raise $800,000, enough money to immunize 1 million children.
The Lima Club makes its Polio Plus push the first quarter of each year, with pledge cards, items for auction, and Rottery proceeds, Lima Rotary Club President Dave Frost said.
In other Rotary business Monday:
Frost announced the club is now selling Reverse Raffle tickets for $100 each. The club is doing the raffle event Feb. 18 instead of a Christmas auction. The evening starts at 5:30, with dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the Civic Center. Additional dinner tickets can be purchased for $25. The Wingate is also running a $72 special for the night. The total purse is $6,000 and the winner does not need to be present to win. Jay Begg is selling tickets.
Lima Rotary Club will help West Central Ohio Red Cross celebrate its centennial anniversary with a blood drive. The drive will take place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Civic Center. The Red Cross will also furnish the speaker at the day’s meeting. Frost would like 100 Rotarians to give blood that day. Sign up at an upcoming meeting, 1-800-Red-Cross or redcrossblood.org.
Drew Fields presented a check to St. Rita’s Mercy Club for $1,830 from the fourth quarter Rottery proceeds. Lima Rotary Club set a donation record in memory of club member Jonalee Schmidt. The creator of Rottery died in 2016, and her husband and daughter were on hand Monday to help present the check.
David Runk named Cat Sarno, Peggy Ehora and Steve Barker Paul Harris fellows and announced XXXXX is now a Paul Harris Fellow plus three.
Next week’s Monday meeting will be held in City Club. Because of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Frost opened the meeting to high school students and members’ children.
This could be the year Polio is eradicated in the world, said Harry Hooyenga, District 6600 Polio Plus Committee chairman said.
Hooyenga, a member and past president of Kenton Rotary Club, told the Lima Rotary Club Monday Rotary International’s goal of eradicating Polio is within sight. The efforts are now focused on Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
In Afghanistan, 12 cases remain, while that number is 19 in Pakistan. In 2016, Polio returned to Nigeria after no cases had been seen in three years, Hooyenga said. Worldwide, the number has tumbled, from 365,000 cases in 1988 to 35 in 2016.
Hooyenga said world health experts estimate that immunizations for children will need to continue for a decade after the disease is declared eradicated.
You can learn more about Rotary International’s efforts here: https://youtu.be/1Ze0J-ABpIQ
Individual and club Polio Plus donations are multiplied now because of an anonymous matching contribution and matching funds from the Bill and Melina Gates Foundation. For example, an individual contribution of $200 ultimately becomes $1,200, enough money to immunize 2,000 children. A club donation of $3,000 becomes $18,000, enough to immunize 30,000 children. Ultimately, the effort that ends March 31 will raise $800,000, enough money to immunize 1 million children.
The Lima Club makes its Polio Plus push the first quarter of each year, with pledge cards, items for auction, and Rottery proceeds, Lima Rotary Club President Dave Frost said.
In other Rotary business Monday:
Frost announced the club is now selling Reverse Raffle tickets for $100 each. The club is doing the raffle event Feb. 18 instead of a Christmas auction. The evening starts at 5:30, with dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the Civic Center. Additional dinner tickets can be purchased for $25. The Wingate is also running a $72 special for the night. The total purse is $6,000 and the winner does not need to be present to win. Jay Begg is selling tickets.
Lima Rotary Club will help West Central Ohio Red Cross celebrate its centennial anniversary with a blood drive. The drive will take place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Civic Center. The Red Cross will also furnish the speaker at the day’s meeting. Frost would like 100 Rotarians to give blood that day. Sign up at an upcoming meeting, 1-800-Red-Cross or redcrossblood.org.
Drew Fields presented a check to St. Rita’s Mercy Club for $1,830 from the fourth quarter Rottery proceeds. Lima Rotary Club set a donation record in memory of club member Jonalee Schmidt. The creator of Rottery died in 2016, and her husband and daughter were on hand Monday to help present the check.
David Runk named Cat Sarno, Peggy Ehora and Steve Barker Paul Harris fellows and announced Fred Seelenbinder is now a Paul Harris Fellow plus three.
Next week’s Monday meeting will be held in City Club. Because of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Frost opened the meeting to high school students and members’ children.