[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 149 (Wednesday, October 23, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN HONOR OF WORLD POLIO DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 23, 2013

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of the 
House that in many parts of the world, polio is on the run. What in the 
past was a worldwide epidemic is now a controlled, limited disease and 
the potential for total eradication is very real.
   One of the groups that has dedicated much of its attention to this 
problem is our Rotary Clubs. Most of us think of Rotary as being that 
eclectic group of community volunteers who turn out at charity events 
or serve at pep rallies for the local high school football team. Their 
dedication to local goodwill is important, true, but they are actually 
much more.
   In reality, more than 34,000 local Rotary Clubs throughout the world 
initiate and deliver service projects to address today's challenges, 
including illiteracy, disease, hunger, poverty, lack of clean water, 
peace and conflict resolution, and environmental concerns. Back in 1985 
Rotary began a mission to eradicate Polio. At that time more than 
350,000 children were stricken with Polio every year at a rate of 
nearly 1,000 people afflicted by the crippling disease every day. 
Today, the reality is much different. The number of countries which are 
polio-endemic has been reduced to just three--Afghanistan, Nigeria, and 
Pakistan. Polio cases have been reduced by 99% to fewer than 700 
recorded cases in 2011.
   This advancement in health is due to the effort of many governments 
and charities and even individuals around the world dedicated to public 
health. But key among them is Rotary which has taken on as one of its 
central missions a positive initiative to create awareness and to 
educate the citizens everywhere about the vital importance of 
eradicating polio worldwide.
   Mr. Speaker, on October 24 Rotary Clubs will mark World Polio Day 
and I commend them on their contribution to the worthy goal of 
eliminating polio around the globe.

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