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Polio Eradication - Murray Verso

“Polio Eradication: A Game of Snakes & Ladders”, was delivered on Wed 21st Oct 2026 to Rotary club members by PDG Murray Verso, highlighting Rotary International’s long-standing commitment to eliminating polio worldwide.

Rotary identifies polio eradication as its number one global project and focuses on fundraising, advocacy, and public awareness to support the global effort to end the disease. For more than three decades, Rotary International has led one of the largest and most successful public health campaigns in history: the eradication of polio.

Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children under five years of age. There is no cure for polio, making vaccination the only effective prevention strategy. Australia experienced major polio outbreaks during the 1930s to 1950s, with an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 Australians developing paralytic polio between 1930 and 1988.

The development of vaccines transformed the fight against polio. Dr Jonas Salk introduced the first injectable vaccine in 1955, followed by Dr Albert Sabin’s oral vaccine, adopted in Australia in 1966. Mass immunisation dramatically reduced cases, with Australia recording its last case of wild poliovirus in 1972. Rotary's campaign was inspired by Australian Rotarian Sir Clem Renouf, whose vision ultimately contributed to the creation of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988, bringing together Rotary, WHO, UNICEF, CDC, the Gates Foundation, and national governments.

Since 1988, when there were approximately 350,000 cases across 125 countries, global cases have declined by more than 99.9%. More than 3 billion children have been vaccinated, over 20 million cases of paralysis prevented, and more than 1.5 million lives saved. Wild poliovirus now remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Polio Eradication - A Game of Snakes and Ladders

Eradication is so close, except for Afghanistan and Pakistan

President Danny thanks Murray

However, the fight is not over. Recent outbreaks in Papua New Guinea and detections of vaccine-derived poliovirus in Australian wastewater show that polio remains a global threat. Challenges include vaccine-derived strains, reaching unvaccinated children, misinformation, security threats to health workers, maintaining political commitment, and securing sufficient funding. An estimated US$6.9 billion is required to complete eradication efforts through 2029.

Rotary continues to play a critical role through fundraising and advocacy. The organisation commits US$50 million annually toward eradication, matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, creating a US$150 million yearly contribution. Clubs, districts, and individual members are encouraged to support awareness campaigns, fundraising events, and World Polio Day activities.

Murray concludes with a message of optimism: despite setbacks and ongoing challenges, polio eradication is achievable. Through sustained vaccination, surveillance, advocacy, and global cooperation, Rotary believes the world will ultimately eliminate polio forever.