Support for the 2019-2023 Polio EndGame Strategy is the project chosen by the District Governor's Partner, Wendy Froggatt.
The Polio Endgame Strategy 2019-2023 has been developed by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), because we have not yet achieved complete eradication of the virus.
The new plan has three goals, namely:
- Eradication of the virus.
- Integration - collaboration with other public health actors beyond the GPEI to strengthen health systems to help achieve and sustain eradication.
- Certification and containment - we have to prove through surveillance that we have interrupted the transmission of the poliovirus, and we have to be able to show that the virus in laboratories, either has been destroyed, or is appropriately contained.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s (GPEI) five-year budget to execute this is $4.2 billion.
What can Rotarians do to ensure that the plan is successful?
The No. 1 thing is to continue to support the program. We have a $3.27 billion funding gap.
We will need Rotarians to make direct donations as well as to advocate with their governments and other groups for their support, so that we can continue to do all of the immunizations and surveillance necessary.
Rotarians in countries where active polio eradication efforts are underway need to continue helping with these efforts and immunizing children. They need to keep advocating with their governments to continue to support polio eradication.
