Posted by Rosie Segil on Oct 30, 2023
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye! A proclamation from Governor Maura Healey's office announcing the good news: October 24 is World Polio Day! Marblehead Rotary's Linda Sullivan, the chair of our club's End Polio Now campaign, successfully lobbied the governor's office to declare October 24 as World Polio Day - affirming our district's and the state's Rotary clubs' commitment to keep the promise alive in eradicating Polio. The proclamation: 
 
Whereas, since 1988, there has been a 99.9 % reduction in wild poliovirus transmission worldwide; and 
Whereas, The virus still remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan; and 
Whereas, unless we eradicate Polio now, 200,000 new cases could occur around the world each year; and 
Whereas, Poliomyelitis mainly affects children under five, invading the nervous system and causing total paralysis in hours; and
Whereas, Rotary clubs throughout Massachusetts seek to raise awareness and raise funds to persevere in eradicating this paralyzing and potentially fatal disease; and 
Whereas, Health workers and systems that deliver polio vaccines also help in fighting other vaccine preventable diseases and improve disease surveillance; and
Whereas, Unless we end Polio now, every child is at risk. 
 
Now, Therefore, I, Maura J. Healey, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim October 24th, 2023, to be WORLD POLIO DAY and urge all residents of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.