Rotary plays role in eradicating polio

Editor:

World Polio Day was Oct. 24 and I want to thank all of the 1.2 million Rotary Club members in 200 countries around the world that kept their promise to all of the children of the world when we decided, in 1985, to make polio eradication, our number one priority.

And in particular, hats off to the people just like you and me, the men and women of the Rotary Clubs right here in Prince Edward Island. And thank you to the Rotaract and Interact Clubs (the Rotary Clubs in universities, high schools and elementary schools) all over Canada for helping us make this happen.

The global effort to eradicate polio demonstrates the tremendous impact of immunizations. The number of new polio cases, a disease that once paralyzed more than 1,000 children every day, has dropped more than 99 percent since the 1980s.

There are fewer cases in fewer places than ever before, and only three countries (Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan) have never stopped transmission of the wild poliovirus.

However, a funding gap means immunization campaigns are being cut in high-risk countries, leaving children more vulnerable to polio. If polio isn’t stopped now, the disease could stage a comeback, affecting an estimated 200,000 children every year.

Rotary made polio eradication its top priority in 1985. Rotary has since contributed US $1.2 billion, and its members have logged countless volunteer hours to help immunize more than two billion children in 122 countries.

If we can eliminate polio from the planet, dozens of other diseases could follow. This is a historic moment, and one that is meaningful to people — especially children — the world over.

As the world stands on the verge of victory over polio, it is important to recognize that amazing things can happen when forces join together for a common good. David Andrews Chair, Rotary International District 7070 Oshawa, Ont.