Rotary Club - Index

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THE REAL DEAL 8 July 08
THE FOUNDATION MOMENT
The Polio Eradication Campaign – PDG Colleen Wood
1. Not long ago, the world was paralyzed by the fear of polio. More than 125
countries were polio endemic and thousands of families watched in anguish
as the disease killed or crippled 1,000 people a day, most of them children. In response to this
suffering, Rotary launched its PolioPlus campaign in 1985 to immunize all of the world’s children
against polio. For over 20 years, Rotary and its partners have worked tirelessly to rid the world of
polio. Today, only parts of four countries are still polio endemic. The eradication of this disease is in
sight but your help is needed as much today as it was in 1985 as the greatest challenge in the battle
against polio is financial. (From Our Gift to the World: Polio Eradication)
2. Since 1985, more than 2 billion children have received the oral polio vaccine. Five million children
destined to be polio victims are walking today and enjoying life because of the global immunization
campaign. Reported polio cases have dropped 99.8 per cent – from 350,000 cases in 1988 to fewer
than 2,000 a year. Only parts of four countries, Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan are reporting
new cases of polio. Due to the efforts of Rotary and its partners, the world is on the threshold of
eradicating the wild poliovirus. (From our Gift to the World: Polio Eradication).
3. Although tremendous progress has been made, the world is not yet polio free. The poliovirus
knows no borders; it can spread from an endemic country into a polio free area. As long as one case
of polio remains in the world, no child is safe from this deadly disease. Despite the enormous
resources already committed, more money is urgently needed to reach the children in the four
remaining countries. Recognizing Rotary’s resolve to eradicate polio, the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation awarded Rotary a $100 million grant. In return, Rotary is committed to matching the $100
million over a three year period that began January 1, 2008. (From our Gift to the World: Polio
Eradication)
4. Because of the Gates Challenge, there is now an unprecedented opportunity to finish the job and
eradicate polio. Consequently, every Rotary, Interact and Rotoract Club is being asked to organize a
public fundraising event for each of the next three years to help meet this challenge. All members of
the family of Rotary, especially newer Rotarians, are also invited to join Rotary’s legacy of a polio free
world by making a personal gift. Eradicating polio means that no child ever again will be paralyzed by
or die from the wild poliovirus. Additionally, the one billion dollars spent annually on polio could no be
used to address other public health concerns. For more information on how you can help, please
contact George Wood or Donna Gambol (From our Gift to the World: Polio Eradication.)