Dutch Rotarians Show Support for Polio Eradication

An EndPolioNow tulip initiative is an example of efforts made by Rotarians across the world to help in the fight against the poliovirus

20160803_RotaryTulip — © Rotary International

Polio tulips

In 2013, a group of Dutch Rotarians began selling boxes of tulip bulbs, with proceeds going to EndPolioNow, as part of Rotary’s fight against polio. In that year alone, tulips found their way to Rotarians across the Netherlands. Since then the tulip initiative has spread, with 4500 boxes sold in 2015, raising more than €45,000. This was tripled by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation resulting in a donation of $144,727 for the End Polio Now fund.

In 2016 the campaign has committed to committed to selling at least one box of Rotary tulip bulbs per Rotarian in the Netherlands, with over 18,000 members in the country. The campaign has also grown to become international in scope, with tulips sold across, Germany, Switzerland and the United States of America.

Rotary’s work

The EndPolioNow tulip campaign is just one example of efforts made by Rotarians across the world to end polio for good. Through its PolioPlus programme, established in 1985, Rotary was the first to have the vision of a polio-free world. More than one million Rotary members have volunteered their time and personal resources to polio eradication in nearly every country. Rotary members also provide valuable field support during National Immunization Days through social mobilization and by administering the oral polio vaccine to children.

It is thanks to the dedicated work of Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners such as Rotary International and Rotarians across the globe that we are now closer than ever to eradicating polio for good.

Learn more about Rotary’s work to eradicate polio here.