Monday, October 24 was World Polio Day! Held for the first time at the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Rotary's annual World Polio Day event brought together the biggest names in the global fight to eradicate polio.

The event featured CDC Director Thomas Frieden, Time Magazine Senior Editor Jeffrey Kluger, National Geographic writer Maryn McKenna, Rotary International President John F. Germ and Vice President Jennifer E. Jones.
In a recent interview with The Rotarian, Frieden spoke about what he's learned as head of the U.S. public health system since 2009.

"Rotarians' continued support for global polio eradication efforts is critical," says Frieden, who will give a global update on the campaign to end polio. "Once polio is eradicated, we have to continue to apply the lessons learned from its eradication to get to the next public health victory."

Kluger, a veteran moderator of our World Polio Day events, has covered health and science for Time since 1996. He's written books about space exploration, the effects of sibling relationships, and, in 2006, Jonas Salk's polio vaccine.
Rotary also debuted a virtual reality presentation that transports viewers to the streets of India and Kenya, where they'll meet polio survivors and hear their poignant stories. This virtual reality experience, a product of cutting-edge computer technology and a collaboration with UNICEF, will be available to view online.