Polio

1988 - On September 16, 1988, The Rotary Club of Chariton exceeded its goal in the PolioPlus program, which was in the winding down stage.  Rotary International had a goal of raising $120 million to furnish the polio vaccine for a World Health Organization project to wipe out polio and five other dread diseases, world wide, in the next decade. The other dread diseases were measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and tuberculosis, of course most of the need was in the third world countries.

All clubs were given "suggested" goals by Rotary International.  Chariton's was $16,276.  Our first reaction was a "no way" deep gulp but we raised, in cash and pledges, $24,200.

In the August, 1988, Rotarian Magazine that there was a big celebration at the Rotary International Convention in May when it was announced that,"totally, there are pledges and cash of $219,350,449.  If substantially all of the pledges are paid, Rotary, in addition to furnishing the polio vaccine, will be able to provide most of the cost of the cold train.  That is the process of delivering the vaccine, at the proper temperature, to the point of use.  In addition Rotary may be able to provide therapy to polio victims in the third world countries.

"At the rate of 8,000 children immunized against polio for each $1,000 contributed, Chariton Rotary has played a significant role in one of the greatest humanitarian efforts ever undertaken.  From The Rotarian September, 1988, Dr. Bruce Aylward, who heads the WHO Global Polio Eradication Initiative is quoted as saying "Only a handful of polio-endemic countries remain in the world.  Yet these threaten the health of children in polio-free countries, since the virus can be easily transported across borders.  According to WHO, countries spend more than U.S. $1.5 billion each year on routine polio immunization alone.  Once polio is eradicated, this money can be spent on other health initiatives.  The polio virus is still circulating in three specific areas, many of which include large, densely populated countries: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan in south Asia; the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria in West and Central Africa; and Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia in the Horn of Africa.  Although there has been a 90 percent decline in reported polio cases worldwide since 1985, nearly $150 million in additional funding is still needed in 1999 for those countries unable to cover all their costs."

Rotary's PolioPlus Program is raising millions of dollars to help equip laboratories and provide training for medical personnel to carry out this critical final phase.

Says Rotarian Sam Okudzeto, a member of the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional PolioPlus Committee from Ghana, "PolioPlus Partners provides that extra help and incentive to see that our goals are accomplished.  We are so close, it is critical that we identify those last remaining polio cases."

1989 - On May 12, 1989, it was announced that:  "In recognition of the tremendous success of the PolioPlus Campaign, Rotary International has been selected to receive the 1989 Outstanding Philanthropic Organization Award from the National Society of Fundraising Executives (NSFRE).  The organization, which represents 10,000 professional fund-raisers in the U.S.A. and other countries, sponsors this annual award to recognize outstanding achievements by fund-raisers and philanthropists.  The award, considered to be the most prestigious in the philanthropic field, was presented in April at NSFRE'S 1989 International Conference in Anaheim, California.
 
2002 - 2005 - We pledged $8,250 over 3 years (we contributed $9,019)  Marion Coons and The Coons Foundation have given $1,500 annually for the eradication of Polio through the Chariton club.

2008 - Our club contributed $250 for the eradication of Polio.