A large donation from Jacksonville philanthropists is helping Rotary International toward its goal of eradicating polio.
On Monday at the Omni hotel, former Northeast Florida Rotary Governor Tommy Grimes announced a very generous gift.
“Delores Barr Weaver and J. Wayne Weaver have made a $250,000 donation to the eradication of polio,” Gilmore said.
Tuesday marks an entire year since Africa last reported a case of the disease.
The last documented case of the disease was exactly a year ago in Somalia. But as NPR has reported, health workers still face opposition to vaccines by groups like the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops.
But, Rotary International Director Robert Hall says he’s optimistic. He says the Catholic bishops remind him of previous opposition from Muslim leaders.
Hall said, “Four years ago, five years ago we actually worked very closely with the Muslim clergy to convince them, the vaccine did not sterilize the children. We actually went to a Muslim manufacturer to manufacture the vaccine, so they could feel good about it.”
In order for a country to be recognized as having eradicated polio, it must show no new cases for three years. The last remaining countries are Pakistan and Afghanistan, with 25 and four cases respectively.
