CHENNAI: The Rotary Club of United Chennai had organized ‘Run to End Polio’ mini-marathon in Chennai on February 15th 2026 (Sunday morning) to sensitize people and create a sustained public awareness about the continued importance of polio immunization in India.
More than 750 children and adults participated in the run that took place at Besant Nagar in Chennai with a message to alert the people to keep vigil on re-emergence of wild polio virus in various countries including a few India’s neighbours.
Mr.D.Devendran, Rotary District Governor (RI District 3233) had flagged off the marathon run and said that Rotary International’s Polio Plus program was instrumental in making India a polio-free nation.
“But we must be very alert because new polio cases have been reported in over 30 countries including two of our country’s neighbours according to the World Health Organisation. So, polio immunisation must be a continuous proccess for our kids in India, and the people of Chennai have shown today that they will always stand up for global causes and especially create a polio-free world,” the Rotary District Governor Mr.D.Devendran had stressed.
Mr.Suresh Manoharan, chairman, Run to End Polio event of Rotary Club of United Chennai, has said that while India has reported no wild polio cases since 2011, the threat remains due to endemic neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Mr.Arulkanth Jayakanthan, president, Rotary Club of United Chennai, had informed that the donations and proceeds that came from the run will go to the polio fund of The Rotary Foundation, and he also appreciated the enthusiastic participation of youth wing Rotaractors from various colleges in Chennai to create public awareness.
“India was declared polio free by the WHO in 2014. It was our Rotary that advocated National Immunization Days in the year 1995 and that paved way to eradicate polio in our country. This marathon run in Chennai on February 15th 2026 reminds us of the continuous efforts to stay vigil and keep India free from polio virus spread, and prevent new cases of wold polio virus,” a press release received from the Rotary Club has informed yesterday.
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