Rotary Polio Eradication - End Polio Now

A drive to eradicate polio

The worldwide eradication of polio is Rotary’s top philanthropic goal and Rotary in New Zealand has a long involvement with polio eradication. One in four New Zealand children are not immunised against polio. Consequently, they are potentially exposed to this tenacious and crippling disease.

In New Zealand, Rotary is undertaking a campaign to boost immunisation levels nationwide to a level that will provide adequate protection for vulnerable children, in the event of a polio epidemic reaching our shores.

FRESCO, together with Adroite Communications and Public Relations is helping Rotary by constructing the strategy and undertaking communications for the ‘End Polio Now’ campaign. Both organisations are providing pro-bono support.

‘End Polio Now’ includes two key initiatives with an over-arching objective of boosting poliomyelitis immunisation levels across New Zealand.

Firstly, Polio Riders will raise awareness of the importance of polio immunisation, Rotary is organising a motorbike ride from Cape Reinga to Wellington and from the Bluff to Wellington in early 2010. Both journeys will culminate in Wellington on the same day.

Secondly, ‘Nail Polio’ involves individual Rotary Clubs all around New Zealand. Members are going to schools and shopping centres and, in return for a gold coin, painting a child’s fingernail purple (as done by immunisation teams in India to show that the child has been immunised).

FRESCO is assisting all these initiatives with extensive support through provisioning a campaign website in Issues.co.nz, social media marketing programmes, including Facebook and Twitter, and print promotions.

If you’d like to know more about how we can help you, please contact us anytime.