Polio Video Update

Dr. Bruce Aylward, director of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative at the World Health Organization in Geneva, made an impassioned speech at the Montreal Convention this past June regarding the current status of polio and Rotary’s success in wiping out this crippling disease.

      Dr. Aylward shared “terrific news” that polio is on the run, and that Rotary’s vision of a polio-free world is in sight.  He urged us to finish the task that we began 25 years ago and had much praise for all Rotarians and what we have accomplished in fighting polio.  “You have fundamentally changed the polio eradication game, and you have changed it in your favour”, he said.

      He added “But it is critical to finish the job, something made clear by the recent outbreak in Tajikistan, noting that 300 children in the country have been paralyzed by the virus, adults have died, borders have been closed, and travel banned.  This outbreak is a stark reminder of the consequences of global fatigue in this battle.  The stakes are now much higher because in the past 12 months you have proved, without a doubt, that polio can be eradicated.  The world has learned the consequences of failure.”

      Emergency funds from Polio Plus – a total of US $500,000.00 – were released within 48 hours of the Tajikistan outbreak, which is now showing signs of stopping.  Dr. Aylward also shared the encouraging news of the new bivalent vaccine, effective against both remaining types of the polio virus, and noted the absence of new cases in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India, in the past six months.

      “Rotarians have done the extraordinary in the pursuit of polio eradication,” Dr. Aylward said.  “You have truly put Service Above Self.  And you have truly put Rotary on the world’s stage.”