I hope you enjoy this article in my weekend reading series.
When I joined the Puyallup – South Hill Rotary Club in 1987 I was asked to donate to the Rotary International Foundation’s Polio Plus campaign, with the stated goal of eradication of polio from the world. I didn’t know much about Rotary yet, but I knew enough about polio to think that this was a pretty bold and likely impossible goal. Polio is spread by the fecal-oral route, and with most of the world drinking unclean water this would mean immunization of nearly all the children in the world. This seemed like an impossible task. I had no clue about Rotary’s influence worldwide. I just thought this was a bunch of non-medical people trying to raise money for an futile cause. Little did I know that would become arguably the greatest single public health initiative in the history of the world. It has been an incredible success, in no small part to Rotary’s influence in many third world countries, the cooperation of the WHO, funding from major NGOs including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the leadership of Rotary International. Rotary has played a crucial role in convincing warring countries to have ceasefires for national immunization days (NIDs) to protect the children on both sides of the conflicts. Rotary has helped convince tribal leaders to allow access to their territory for NIDs. The power of Rotary’s reputation as being honorable and truly apolitical have convinced me that doing good in the world in a big way is possible. I have been so excited about the Polio Plus program that I’ve contributed to the campaign every year since 1987, and will continue to support the Rotary Foundation’s efforts. This article in the NY Times talks to how close this effort is now, and how the final hurdles are being cleared. I’ll also link to an article on the Rotary International web site to give the Rotary perspective and post a You Tube on the Polio Plus efforts in India. Enjoy. I predict that polio is a disease of the past before the end of this decade.
A Campaign Shows Signs of Progress
Against Polio
By CELIA W. DUGGER
Published: April 12, 2010
in the New York Times
JOHANNESBURG — A decade after the world’s original deadline for eradicating polio, the most tenacious bastions of the crippling virus — Nigeria and India — have recently shown remarkable progress in halting its spread, giving even some of the antipolio campaign’s severest doubters hope that it may yet largely achieve its goal. Read on…
Kick Polio Out of Africa
Mobilizing volunteers in Benin
18 April 2010 — The ball’s arrival in Benin served as a powerful catalyst to mobilize volunteers for an immunization drive beginning 24 April in the country and 18 other West and Central African nations. After a press conference and signing by dignitaries, the ball stopped at several Rotary clubs in Benin. It ended its stay at the Rene Pleven Stadium, where Rotarians, UNICEF staff, and coaches from the national soccer team attended two matches. Check out the Rotary web site outlining the efforts in Africa or watch the You Tube on efforts of the efforts in India now.
Still concerns exist. Today’s Wall Street Journal outlines the challenges: Gates Rethinks His War on Polio
You may also enjoy last weekend’s read: A good weekend read. about marraige and health.