“The goal of the PolioPlus program is the global certification of polio eradication. By eradication, WHO, the Global Commission on Certification and Rotary mean the interruption of the transmission of the wild poliovirus.”
Despite tremendous progress in reducing the incidence of polio, it still exists. Polio will continue to threaten children everywhere as long as it exists somewhere. In this age of global travel, a new outbreak of polio might only be a plane ride away.
What you need to know:
- Polio is a highly infectious disease that primarily affects children under the age of three and can cause paralysis within hours.
- 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 stave off 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.
- Today, polio cases are only found in three countries: Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan.
- Rotary International is the spearheading member of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and is the second largest private sector donor. According to PolioEradication.org, contributions from Rotary from 1985 to 2016 totaled more than $1.5 billion 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, and with health providers at the grassroots level in thousands of communities.
“If we all have the fortitude to see this effort through to the end, then we will eradicate polio.”
– Bill Gates
Please visit the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation website to “End Polio Now”.
Rotary vs. Polio: A Timeline
Rotary is an international community that brings together leaders who step up to take on the world’s toughest challenges, locally and globally. The eradication of polio is one of our longest-standing and most significant efforts. Along with our partners, we have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. We have reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent worldwide and we won’t stop until we end the disease for good.
In 1985, Rotary International launches PolioPlus, the first and largest internationally coordinated private-sector support of a public health initiative, with an initial fundraising target of US$120 million. In 1988, Rotary International and the World Health Organization launch the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. There were an estimated 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries.
Between 1995 and 2000, health workers and volunteers immunize 715 million children, a little over 10% of the world’s population – receive the oral polio vaccine. Rotary launches the PolioPlus Partners program, enabling Rotary members in polio-free countries to provide support to fellow members in polio-affected countries for polio eradication activities. The Western Pacific region, spanning from Australia to China, is declared polio-free.
In 2006, the number of polio-endemic countries drops to 4 – Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Nigeria. By 2009, Rotary’s overall contribution to the eradication effort nears $800 million. In January, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledges $355 million and issues Rotary a challenge grant of $200 million. This announcement will result in a combined $555 million in support of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
With the arrival of 2014, India has gone 3 full years without a new case caused by the wild poliovirus, and the World Health Organization certifies the South-East Asia region polio-free. Polio cases are down over 99% since 1988. By 2019, Nigeria has also gone 3 full years with any occurrences of wild polio and we await the WHO certification of Nigeria being polio-free and declaring the entire African continent as “Polio Free.”
A polio-free world is within our grasp. Join Rotary’s effort to end this crippling disease. Learn more about Rotary’s ongoing effort to eradicate polio and how you can help through contributions to PolioPlus and PolioPlus Partners. Delane Wycoff, District 5630 Polio Plus Chairman, can answer your questions regarding Rotary’s quest to finish the job and rid the planet of the wild polio virus; a feat that is referred to as “Rotary’s gift to the children of the world.” Contact Delane at delanew@charter.net if you need help.
As long as polio threatens even one child anywhere in the world, children everywhere remain at risk. The stakes are that high.
Rotary vs. Polio: A Timeline
Rotary is an international community that brings together leaders who step up to take on the world’s toughest challenges, locally and globally. The eradication of polio is one of our longest-standing and most significant efforts. Along with our partners, we have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. We have reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent worldwide and we won’t stop until we end the disease for good.
In 1985, Rotary International launches PolioPlus, the first and largest internationally coordinated private-sector support of a public health initiative, with an initial fundraising target of US$120 million. In 1988, Rotary International and the World Health Organization launch the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. There were an estimated 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries.
Between 1995 and 2000, health workers and volunteers immunize 715 million children, a little over 10% of the world’s population – receive the oral polio vaccine. Rotary launches the PolioPlus Partners program, enabling Rotary members in polio-free countries to provide support to fellow members in polio-affected countries for polio eradication activities. The Western Pacific region, spanning from Australia to China, is declared polio-free.
In 2006, the number of polio-endemic countries drops to 4 – Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Nigeria. By 2009, Rotary’s overall contribution to the eradication effort nears $800 million. In January, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledges $355 million and issues Rotary a challenge grant of $200 million. This announcement will result in a combined $555 million in support of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
With the arrival of 2014, India has gone 3 full years without a new case caused by the wild poliovirus, and the World Health Organization certifies the South-East Asia region polio-free. Polio cases are down over 99% since 1988. By 2019, Nigeria has also gone 3 full years with any occurrences of wild polio and we await the WHO certification of Nigeria being polio-free and declaring the entire African continent as “Polio Free.”
A polio-free world is within our grasp. Join Rotary’s effort to end this crippling disease. Learn more about Rotary’s ongoing effort to eradicate polio and how you can help through contributions to PolioPlus and PolioPlus Partners. Delane Wycoff, District 5630 Polio Plus Chairman, can answer your questions regarding Rotary’s quest to finish the job and rid the planet of the wild polio virus; a feat that is referred to as “Rotary’s gift to the children of the world.” Contact Delane at delanew@charter.net if you need help.
As long as polio threatens even one child anywhere in the world, children everywhere remain at risk. The stakes are that high.