End Polio

Polio: Beginning to End



	District Polio Chair, Rob Byrne of the Rotary Club of Turramurra gave a presentation at the 2014 District Conference. Watch the video on YouTube in conjunction with the presentation slides (click here) An update was given at the 2015 District Conference and the slides from that presentation may also be downloaded here

	One of the legends of the Rotary Polio project passed away recently. Professor Ron Huckstep (pictured in the centre) was pivotal, together with Past President Rob Sheldon (North Sydney) in getting the District Governor and the World President Elect aboard the polio project which as it's first act was to immunise the Philippines...that is how it started and on it goes. Ron and Rob threw the first pebble into the pond which started those tiny ripples which have turned into waves which have saved so many lives and reduced ...so much human suffering. When it started polio was endemic in 125 countries with 350,000 polio cases or 40 children being diagnosed every hour. The mortality rate among kids was 2 - 5% which meant that there were over 10,000 deaths per year. We are close to the end and we thank you Prof Ron Huckstep for your persistence your humility, your determination and your resolve.