|
The Warning Signs at Our Doorstep
In Barbados, the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners recently reported a steady five-year rise in requests for routine childhood vaccine exemptions, largely fuelled by online misinformation. Scepticism rarely stays in one lane; when routine immunization rates drop, the door opens for every preventable disease, including polio.
This is the dual threat Rotary has fought for nearly four decades: the virus itself, and the hesitation that allows it to resurface.
Leading the Way: Congratulations to Our Early Champions
While we ask every club to join the fight, some have already come out swinging. Congratulations to our top ten giving clubs year to date, led by the Rotary Club of Fort-de-France Sud in first place, the Rotary Club of Barbados South in second, and the Rotary Club of Dominica in third. Your early action is setting the pace for District 7030.
To these clubs above: thank you for showing what commitment looks like. Keep the momentum going all the way to World Polio Day. To everyone else: this leaderboard has room for your club too. Stay the course, and let’s keep climbing together.
Why Every Club Matters, Every Year
Every club in District 7030 is asked to commit to an Annual PolioPlus goal of USD $1,500.
It’s an achievable target with a massive return. Thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s 2-to-1 match, every dollar we raise turns into three dollars on the front lines. Beyond funding, this goal ensures our clubs remain visible advocates for public health and vaccine confidence across the Caribbean.
World Polio Day: Saturday, October 24, 2026
It’s time to start planning! Let’s make sure every club in District 7030 is represented on October 24. Whether you host a fundraising dinner, a school awareness campaign, a social media drive, or a dedicated club meeting, please register your event and get your members active.
World Polio Day is one of our greatest unifying moments, bringing millions of Rotarians together worldwide. Let’s make sure the Caribbean’s voice is heard loud and clear.
Service Above Self
To anyone wondering if polio is truly "our fight" from where we sit in the Caribbean: polio anywhere remains a threat everywhere. The waves of misinformation reaching our shores prove that no island is an isolated bubble.
We started this mission. Let’s be the generation of Rotarians that finishes it, while keeping our own communities protected along the way.
Set your goals, register your events, and let’s make an impact!
In Rotary service,
Ryan Best
District PolioPlus Committee Chair, Rotary District 7030