The Secretary-General of the United Nations urged countries not to cut back on health care investment during the global economic downturn as he made a keynote speech
Speaking to the 100th Rotary International annual convention at the NEC, Mr Ban praised the organisation for raising $250 million in the fight against the disease which he said had helped an estimated five million people avoid contracting the disease.
"Now is the time to finish the job, I call on all governments around the world to help us," he said. "Together we can fulfill the Rotarian vision and give future generations a polio-free world.
"At this time of global economic downturn, we find ourselves at a crossroads. We face multiple crises. We can either cut back on health expenditures and incur massive losses in lives and capacity for growth, or we can invest in health and spare both people and economies the high cost of inaction.
"Healthy people have improved life expectancy, go to school, and are more productive. They take fewer days off their work, have lower birth rates, and therefore invest more in fewer children."
The Secretary-General also received the Polio Champion Award from Rotary International adding that the award was also for the countless number of people who risked their lives so that children can grow up free from the paralyzing disease.
"For two decades, vaccinators and other polio staff working for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative have faced tremendous risks. They work in hostile areas where they could be attacked or kidnapped. They work through storms, droughts and natural disasters.
The vast majority of them are volunteers, spending their own time and resources to help people. They are all polio champions. I applaud them. As Secretary-General of the United Nations, I have travelled the world, to dangerous places, and I have been humbled by their work.
I thank you for this award, which will serve as a powerful reminder of how much they have done, and as a moving inspiration to the United Nations to press ahead with our efforts so that one day soon, we will live in a polio-free world."
F.U.N was born when a friend asked how he can help the United Nations? "What does the UN need most" he asked? Friends are what the UN needs most, was our answer, and it just happens to spell F.U.N. 
