Rotarians worldwide have 24th October marked in their diary every year to celebrate the work Rotary has done towards ridding the world of polio and 2023 was no different.
From lighting up local landmarks to planting purple crocuses and heading out into the community proudly wearing their End Polio Now shirts, Rotarians found a variety of ways to mark World Polio Day 2023.
Eradicating polio has been one of Rotary’s most significant humanitarian goals for nearly four decades, having contributed more than US$2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to the fight to end polio.
In 1985, Rotary International launched PolioPlus, the first and largest internationally coordinated private-sector support of a public health initiative.
Since then, Rotary has helped reduce the number of wild poliovirus cases per year by 99.9%, with 2023 seeing only 8 cases of polio recorded.
See how those from the world of Rotary and beyond celebrated this important day in 2023.
Rotary International President Gordon McInally
A message from the Board of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)
Members of the GPEI
World Health Organization (WHO)
Today is #WorldPolioDay.
5 of the 6 WHO regions – representing over 90% of the global population – are certified free of wild polio.#Polio teams around the world 🌏🌍🌎 are changing lives, two drops 💧💧 at a time. #EndPolio
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) October 24, 2023
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
During times of conflict, healthcare systems are often impacted, leaving children especially vulnerable to illness.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, vaccinators are doing everything they can to ensure that displaced children are protected against polio.#WorldPolioDay pic.twitter.com/TqSNs9qBnA
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) October 24, 2023
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Today is #WorldPolioDay. We can all help keep the U.S. polio-free by getting our kids vaccinated on time. Let’s make polio history! #VaccinesWork #EndPolio
— CDC (@CDCgov) October 24, 2023
GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance
This #WorldPolioDay we celebrate the health workers who are committed to reaching every child with a polio vaccine and delivering a polio-free world. #MakePolioHistory @WHOEMRO pic.twitter.com/0THyCTw9BR
— Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (@gavi) October 24, 2023
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Thank you to the incredible storytellers who shared their polio experiences at @TheMoth. They were inspiring & critical reminders that we must keep fighting until we #EndPolio once and for all. #WorldPolioDay@epi_tetsuya @DrRichBesser @ChrisJElias @SafiaIbrahi @WALETOM pic.twitter.com/Z2RAhig26e
— Gates Foundation (@gatesfoundation) October 24, 2023
Rotary Great Britain & Ireland
https://twitter.com/CroesyInteract/status/1716837351555506644?s=20
We are delighted to welcome partners @Rotary to the RELOC8 EM Community Stadium for this evening's game 🙌
Rotary clubs in Bromley are holding a bucket collection, raising money for World Polio Day.
Make sure you head over and say hello 👋#WeAreBromley pic.twitter.com/RUCaKOwZj2
— Bromley FC Community Trust (@BromleyFCTrust) October 24, 2023
1/3 Today, Tuesday 24 October, is World Polio Day and we have lit our bridges purple to help raise awareness.
The theme this year is "Walk a Mile to end polio". In Bedford Borough, Bedford Rotary Club is working with four primary schools for the End Polio campaign. #EndPolio pic.twitter.com/HOrHXr2bzF
— Bedford Borough Council (@BedfordTweets) October 24, 2023
Buildings around the world are being lit up purple tonight.
Our special thanks the #WorldPolioDay go to @KilsythAcademy @KilsythAnderson & @KilsythCottage hospital.@EndPolioNow
Join our tenacious fight. Together, we will #EndPolio. https://t.co/iYOpMz8x18 pic.twitter.com/vHd78gYtN2— Rotary Kilsyth (@RotaryKilsyth) October 24, 2023
Wonderful to be able to raise awareness of World Polio Day today by lighting up St Dunstan’s Church in Canterbury in purple with the two other Canterbury Clubs, Sunrise and Forest of Blean#Worldpolioday #worldpolioday2023 #rotarypolio #endpolionow #purple4polio #purpleforpolio pic.twitter.com/BC6BuxHS4a
— Canterbury Rotary (@RotaryCantUK) October 25, 2023
World Polio Day and Billy Bear is on his travels to try to find all the buildings that are lit up purple and tonight he starts on Elgin High Street finding quite a few different purple buildings.
Where will we find Billy Bear tomorrow?
#endpolionow pic.twitter.com/bczNGKxskV— Rotary Elgin (@RotaryElgin) October 24, 2023
#WorldPolioDay #Uppingham #Rotary & #Uppinghaminbloom joined forces to mark the day & successful #international campaign to eradicate #polio. Only 9 cases in world this year. 4,000 purple crocus planted. Thanks to all! pic.twitter.com/EaZm75LDpJ
— RutlandLordLieutenant (@RutlandLL) October 24, 2023
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William Patrick Library will be lit up purple today to mark World Polio Day.
Kirkintilloch Rotary Club, in association with GRACE, will be planting 2,000 purple crocus bulbs – the symbol of Rotary International's End Polio Now campaign – at Hillhead Community Centre. pic.twitter.com/9o5fTfibRP— East Dun Council (@EDCouncil) October 24, 2023
Out this morning with @OswestryCambria @RJAH_NHS celebrating and promoting @worldpolioday plenty of lovely purple #crocus #inclusionInAction #ChooseToInclude @MencapCymru @mencap @DSAInfo pic.twitter.com/0qT5qtrpBk
— Michael Beynon (@MichaelBeynon7) October 24, 2023
Rotary Club marks World Polio Day with fundraising walkhttps://t.co/bzQZDBNoO7
— GBC News (@GBCNewsroom) October 24, 2023
Rotary International
Myron Thompson — United States District Judge and polio survivor 💜
This #WorldPolioDay, remember by working together, we can make a polio-free world possible.
Take action: https://t.co/gi25zMUoK6 pic.twitter.com/zro4d6Z2R1
— Rotary International (@Rotary) October 24, 2023
Polio Eradicators are superheroes!@Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35yrs. The goal of ending polio in the world is closer than ever.
Marking the #WorldPolioDay at St.Catherine Pri. School , Nairobi🇰🇪 📌.@LeoIthau @EndPolioNow @JenJonesRotary pic.twitter.com/SnBHnA5hKu
— Lamech💫🇰🇪 (The Local Man) (@LamechLamarch25) October 24, 2023
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https://twitter.com/ChathamRotary/status/1716858956901970092
https://twitter.com/RotaractD9214/status/1716726220606546194
To mark World Polio Day, representatives from the Rotary Clubs of Prince Edward Island met with Lt. Governor Antoinette Perry for an official flag-raising at Fanningbank, and with Premier Dennis King for an Official Proclamation declaring October 24, 2024 as World Polio Day pic.twitter.com/muX61CTueh
— Charlottetown Rotary (@RotaryChtown) October 24, 2023
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The Rotaract club of ATBU Bauchi and Rotary club of Bauchi central having awareness trek from Emir's Palace to Government House Bauchi, to mark October 24th, as World Polio Day.#TogetherWeCanEndPolio#endpolionow#Letskeeppolioatzero#Racatbu#WorldPolioDay_2023 pic.twitter.com/YaOzFo9wzA
— Racatbu (@Rotaractatbu) October 24, 2023
Rotary Clubs of East Java mengingatkan pentingnya World Polio Day 2023 melalui talk show di She Radio 99.6 FM. Dengan memperkuat dukungan untuk pemberantasan polio. Ayo bersama-sama akhiri polio di seluruh dunia! #rotaryinternational #rotarydistrict3420Indonesia pic.twitter.com/CT5JlIw0Le
— publicimage .rd3420 (@RotaryRID3420) October 25, 2023
The SJA Interact Club held it 1st Annual Purple Pinkie Day to recognize World Polio Day. In one day they raised $231 by selling purple glow sticks for a $1 donation. These monies will be tripled by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and go towards Rotary's End Polio Now. pic.twitter.com/ao1OpQOyB8
— St Joseph Academy (@SaintJoeAcademy) October 24, 2023
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Together Rotary District 6650 sold 265 dozen Purple Pinkie Donuts. Thank you to everyone that ordered and contributed to our fight against Polio! #rotaryfightagainstpolio #purplepinkiedonuts #youngstown pic.twitter.com/fbyMYcHhgB
— Rotary Club of Youngstown (@YtownRotary) October 24, 2023
