The Rotary Club of Blouberg joined millions around the world in recognising World Polio Day recently, with an eye-opening awareness campaign at Bayside Shopping Centre in Table View.
Over two days, 24 and 25 October, shoppers were invited to step inside a life-sized wooden “iron lung”, a replica of the machine that once kept polio patients alive. The unique experience encouraged visitors to reflect on the devastating impact of the disease — and the life-changing power of vaccination.
Experiencing life inside an iron lung
The iron lung demonstration drew steady interest from curious shoppers and families throughout the weekend. Many took turns lying inside the chamber for 20 minutes, experiencing the physical restrictions once endured by polio patients before vaccines became available in the 1950s.
“This was a powerful way to help people understand why vaccination is so critical,” said Helène Visser of the club. “There’s no cure for polio once it strikes — but it can be completely prevented through immunisation.”
The Blouberg Rotary Club welcomed several notable guests who visited or participated in the initiative, including Marlene le Roux, CEO of the Artscape Opera House and herself a polio survivor, as well as Prof Pierre Goussard from Tygerberg Children’s Hospital.
Local schools also showed strong support. Members of the Blouberg International High School Interact Club assisted Rotarians, while learners from Curro Century City Interact Club volunteered on Saturday to help engage with shoppers and hand out awareness material.
Rotary’s global effort to end polio
Since 1988, Rotary International has worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF on a mission to eradicate polio worldwide. Once a disease that paralysed hundreds of thousands of children each year, polio now remains endemic in only two countries — Pakistan and Afghanistan. To sustain the progress, Rotary International must raise $50 million per year over the next three years, a target generously matched two-to-one by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Although South Africa has been polio-free for decades, the message remains crucial: vaccination is the only protection. Recent outbreaks in Zimbabwe, Gaza, and Angola serve as reminders that the virus can re-emerge wherever immunisation rates drop.
“Only about 67% of young children in South Africa have received the polio vaccine,” said organisers. “We urge parents to ensure their little ones are protected — it’s a simple step that saves lives.”
Honouring courage and resilience
The display also honoured the late Paul Alexander, who contracted polio at age six and spent more than 70 years living inside an iron lung. Despite being paralysed from the neck down, Alexander earned a law degree and became an attorney, inspiring millions through his courage and perseverance.
The Blouberg Rotary Club contributed R5 000 to the Rotary Foundation’s Polio Eradication Fund and has challenged other clubs in District 9350 to meet or exceed this amount. The initiative raised additional donations and strengthened local awareness around the importance of vaccination.
“We are grateful to everyone who visited our stand, lay in the lung, and donated,” said Visser. “Each rand, each conversation, brings us closer to a world where no child will ever suffer from polio again.”
