ROTARY CLUB OF TIPTON, IOWA
POLIO PLUS
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Before eradication efforts began in 1988, polio paralyzed more than 1,000 children a day, which totaled about 350,000 children annually. The incidence of polio has since declined by more than 99 percent.
Vaccinations easily can prevent polio. Vaccinations have prevented an estimated 500,000 children per year from contracting polio. A child can be protected against polio for as little as 60 cents (US) worth of vaccine.
Only four countries are still polio endemic; an all-time low: Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Rotary International is the spearheading member of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and is the largest private sector donor. It has contributed more than US $600 million to the polio eradication activities in 122 countries. In addition, tens of thousands of Rotarians have partnered with their national ministries of health, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and with health providers at the grassroots level in thousands of communities.
After 20 years of hard work, Rotary and its partners are on the brink of eradicating this tenacious disease, but a strong push is needed now to root it out once and for all. It is a window of opportunity of historic proportions.
Rotary will raise $200 million to match $355 million in challenge grants received from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The resulting $555 million will directly support immunization campaigns in developing countries, where polio continues to infect and paralyze children, robbing them of their futures and compounding the hardships faced by their families.
A polio-free world is within our grasp.
Rotary's ongoing efforts to achieve Rotary International's and its Foundation's goal of the certification of the eradication of the wild poliovirus. This support includes the provision of quality education and information to promote the efforts of Rotarians directly involved in polio eradication activities, and the membership at large; facilitation of interaction, particularly between Rotarians in polio free and polio affected countries, collaboration with Rotary partners in the Polio Eradication Initiative, and grants to Rotarians and partner organizations.
Afghanistan
On the Border – after a recent outbreak in neighboring Tajikistan, Afghan officials are
trying new approaches to ensure that the polio virus doesn’t enter through the border. Six permanent polio immunization
booths have been erected at border crossing checkpoints, where military personnel are immunizing children before they enter
the country. Drops are also being given in unlikely places, including at weddings, in female prisons, and on trains
and buses. Despite insecurity that has hindered access in some restricted areas, case counts have remained steady, with
13 polio cases reported this year, compared to 13 at the same time last year.
Horn of Africa
Celebrating One Year Polio Free
–As of 30 July 2010, the Horn of Africa, including Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, has once again been declared polio-free
after an outbreak in 2009 threatened that status. The last case of polio reported there was in July 2009.
India
Indian Rotarians Engage
Muslim Leadership – Rotarians recently organized a meeting in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh to encourage the Muslim leadership
to support polio eradication activities in the area. Uttar Pradesh accounts for 10 of the 27 polio cases reported
in India during 2010. The meeting resulted in a strengthening of relations between the Ulemas and Rotarians, and future meetings
are being planned to continue the collaborative effort.
Nigeria
Nigeria receives high praise from African Union Leaders –
At their summit in Kampala, Uganda, the African Union praised Nigeria’s efforts to eradicate polio. As of 4 August
2010, Nigeria is reporting 6 polio cases compared to 365 at the same time last year. Dr Mohammed Pate, the Executive Director
of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) cited increased political engagement among all stakeholders
as key to the dramatic success in reducing cases.
PolioPlus Summit in Nigeria – A draft agenda has been developed for the PolioPlus
Summit in Abuja, Nigeria, scheduled for 20-22 September 2010. Attendees may also wish to participate in immunization activities
18-20 September in Abuja and the surrounding area. The official summit will commence on Tuesday, 21 September, with
a welcome from NPPC Chair Busuyi Onabolu, an address from RI President Klinginsmith, and remarks from Trustee Chair Carl-Wilhelm
Stenhammar. Attendees will also hear from Nigerian dignitaries, including the Sultan of Sokoto, the new Nigerian Minister
of Health Onyebuchi Chukwu, and his Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President of Nigeria. For more information
and to register, please visit Polio Plus Summit Nigeria.
Pakistan
PolioPlus in Pakistan Puts on a New Face – the National PolioPlus Committee in Pakistan
is drawing on the popularity of Facebook to help keep its friends and supporters informed about polio eradication activities
and events. Check out all the latest news at Facebook Polio Plus Pakistan. From this page visitors can also access the regular PolioPlus Pakistan website.
Polio Awareness Workshop in Mingora – a workshop was held to raise awareness about polio eradication activities in the SWAT Valley. This was the first event of its kind held in the region, which was only recently opened after anti-government forces were removed. The activities included speakers from WHO, UNICEF, CDC, other local religious and educational institutions. A representative from the family of the ruler of SWAT was also present.
Polio Awareness Goes Mobile in Pakistan - With limited access to traditional billboards for recent NID activities, NPPC Chair Aziz Memon decided to take the polio awareness campaign on the road. Two vans, displaying the End Polio Now slogan on one side and ‘Give Every Child Polio Drops under 5 Years of Age’ on the other, traveled through Karachi for a week, advertising polio immunization activities. At night, the signs were illuminated from within so that the message could be clearly seen.
Rotaractors Get Involved – Rotaractors from the Dadu club helped get the word out about immunization activities taking place 12-14 July. They made announcements via megaphone to create polio awareness and motivate people to vaccinate their children.
Advocacy Awareness
Rotary Presents Champion Award to President of
Chad – On 8 August 2010, Rotary’s International PolioPlus Committee (IPPC) Chair Bob Scott presented a Polio Eradication
Champion award to the President of Chad, Idriss Deby Itno, in recognition of his strong support for polio eradication.
After an outbreak in 2009, the President publicly confirmed his support and requested that all governors in the country fully
engage in efforts to stop the outbreak. Thanks to NPPC Chair Ahmat Ali Hisseine for all his hard work making arrangements
for the ceremony. The President was also made a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of N’Djamena in June
2010.
UNICEF Executive Board Meeting – Trustee Chair Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar and IPPC Chair Bob Scott will attend UNICEF’s Executive Board meeting on 7-9 September 2010, where the formal relationship between Rotary and UNICEF will be extended for another five years.
