Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 30 years. Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever.
As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we've reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979.
We've helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. So far, Rotary has contributed more than $1.8 billion toward eradicating the disease worldwide.
Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.
Past District Governor and District Chair of the Rotary Foundation Martin Garcia presented an update on the Rotary Foundation, a non-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. 
Chris Simpson the CEO of Kapiti Airport spoke to our group last week. Members were keenly interested and as expected Chris was asked a lot of questions which he answered candidly.The only question he cannot answer is what Templeton paid for the airport as they are bound by a confidentiality agreement with the vendors. Otherwise he is an open book and he has welcomed our club to a tour of the airport so as we can see first hand what is happening on the 110 hectares that the airport sits on. 
Matu Booth from Nga Manu Nature Reserve spoke to the Club about the many exciting developments at one of Kapiti's finest attractions. Nga Manu has certainly suffered a drop in numbers due to Covid-19 but about two thirds of visitors have always been Kiwis who have been very supportive over the past year. Whilst the reserve has managed to contain pests and preserve wetlands, one of the biggest challenges facing Nga Manu is the surrounding and ever encroaching residential developments draw on the water table and cats.