Community Interact Club of South DeKalb hosts “End Polio Now” awareness event

The Community Interact Club of South DeKalb held an education event about polio during World Interact Week, Nov. 5, at the South DeKalb Family YMCA. Members of the club handed out information and pins to YMCA members and staff about polio and the fight to eradicate polio. Polio is an incurable, paralyzing disease that commonly affects children under the age of 5.

Solomon Gaiters and Michael McCorvey took pictures with members and staff including Executive Director Curtis Winston, Assistant Director Wesley Triplett, Dafina Braithwaite, Joy Saunders-Fields, Anita Adams, Princess Bellamy and Lawrence Marbury. Rotary Club of South DeKalb President Irvin Johnson and DeKalb Rotary Council Chairman Ceasar Gaiters were in attendance to support the Interact Club members.

Rotary International is a global network of committed individuals who unite and take action to create lasting positive change. The Interact Club is the level of Rotary International that empowers teens to become leaders and take an active part in their community. Rotary International began its fight against Polio in 1979. On November 5, 2019, The Community Interact Club of South DeKalb, founded in May 2017, joined in the fight to eradicate polio.

A vaccine was created in 1955, which Rotary International distributes yearly to communities in need. In 2003, there were six countries that remained endemic. Today, due to Rotary International’s efforts, there are only three countries that remain endemic.  Rotary International is close to ending Polio and today’s Interact Club “End Polio Now” event has added to the efforts, officials of Rotary Club of South DeKalb said.