Despite the dramatic drop in polio cases in the last year, the threat of continued transmission due to funding and immunization gaps has driven the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to launch the Global Polio Emergency Action Plan 2012-13.

The plan aims to boost vaccination coverage in the three remaining polio-endemic countries -- Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan -- to levels needed to stop polio transmission. Health ministers meeting at the World Health Assembly in Geneva adopted a resolution on 25 May that declared “the completion of polio eradication to be a programmatic emergency for global public health.”

Polio eradication activities have resulted in several landmark successes since 2010. India, long regarded as the nation facing the greatest challenges to eradication, was removed from the list of polio-endemic countries by the World Health Organization (WHO) in February. Outbreaks in previously polio-free countries were nearly all stopped.

During that same time span, however, polio outbreaks in China and West Africa due to importation from Pakistan and Nigeria, respectively, have highlighted the continued threat of resurgence. Failure to eradicate the disease could lead within a decade to paralysis of as many as 200,000 children per year worldwide.

Polio has declined rapidly since 1985, but the fight isn't over. While polio is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease, for as little as US$0.60, a child can be vaccinated for life. If we don't finish the fight right now, more than 10 million children under the age of five could be paralyzed in the next 40 years. Rotary raises funds to make sure every child receives access to the polio vaccine. See the impact your contribution can make.

Consul General of Canada to address Rotary Chandigarh

Mr. Scott Slessor, Consul General, Consulate General of Canada in Chandigarh, would be addressing our Club on Monday, 24th September on "Sustainable Peace for Sustainable Future".

His address is in the light of the UN's International Day of Peace that falls on 21st September, and more importantly when this year the entire Rotary world is charged with RI President Sakuji Tanaka's theme, "Peace through Service".

Do join in with your families especially with the youngsters who are our future and have the responsibility to ensure that peace prevails in the world that can only ensure a brighter future for the generations to cocme. 

Living Your Values

We have lost our values...a common refrain when we talk in our drawing rooms discussing the behavior of people in different facets of life.  Some of us perhaps wish to brush it off as a changing trend of our changing times.  Others still wonder what values our children are carrying into the future. Amidst this change the only change perhaps that we can bring about is to look within and have a reality check: how effective we had been in representing the ethical values in our business, professional and personal life?  

These and numerous other life issues would form the core of deliberations from a group of very high profile speakers, on Sunday, the 28th October 2012.  The most important factor is that this is our opportunity to bring our families together at this forum and understand why we need to look deeply into our own values.  

The early bird registration is just Rs.700 for single and Rs.1300 for couple, which includes your breakfast and lunch. 

This is also the greatest gift that you can give to the young generation.  Sponsor a Rotaract, Interact, or even your own children for this meet. And surely, you won't regret it. 

Act now for a life changing experience. 

Please register with Rtn. Jatinder Kapur  099159 77632