MADURAI: The Rotary International is putting in all its best possible efforts to carry out polio immunization for children in Afghanistan and Pakistan because the ground situation right now in these two countries is affecting total polio eradication which is Rotary’s mission, Mr.Mario Cesar, Rotary International President for 2025-26, has said today.
“From January 1st this year till today, 35 polio cases are reported from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Polio vaccination is not being allowed and volunteers were threatened. We have political dialogue and other ways to undertake polio immunization on a mass scale. It may take time, but we are working to put a stop to wild polio virus cases in these two nations and I am sure that it will happen much sooner, by overcoming the religious issues, logistical and tribal issues,” he said while addressing a press conference in Madurai on September 25th 2024.
SHARING BORDERS WITH INDIA:
Responding to a question, the Rotary International President Elect Mr.Mario Cesar Martins De Camargo who hails from Brazil, has said that the polio cases in Afghanistan, Pakistan and migration through other borders keep India on alert mode and continued surveillance because even though India has been declared as polio-free country, it shares borders with these two affected nations from where polio cases are being reported.
“Polio vaccination was started on a mass scale in 1985 by the Rotary International. Rotary gave 2.8 billion US dollars for polio eradication. Actually India was our biggest fear for polio control due to its huge population and number of children to be given oral polio vaccine and immunized. But, India succeeded in this mission due to sustained efforts over the years. Surveillance should be a continuous process because Covid is an experience. It strikes back. Our task force must keep monitoring in all countries including India,” the Rotary International President-Elect, had stressed in Madurai today.
Rtn.Mario Cesar was in Madurai on September 24th 2024 to address a large number of Rotarians from various places at the ‘Vision 2030 Membership Conclave’ where he chalked out the action plan for Rotary’s membership targets and other goals.
Mr.AKS M.Muruganandam, Rotary International Director for 2025-27, has said that India has 1.72 lakh Rotarians and it is in second position in the world after US in Rotary membership. Among those present at the press meet include RI Director Rtn.Raju Subramanian, Rtn.Raja Govindasamy, Rtn.Anandthajothi and Rtn.Balaji.
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