Update on Efforts to Eradicate Polio

On Friday, November 1, members welcomed the long time Chairman of Rotary District 7490 Polio Plus Foundation Dr. Jim Cole to The Courtyard to get the latest update on RI’s continuing effort to eradicate polio throughout the world. Last month Jim took part in an immunization mission in the African nation of Togo where he helped provide precious drops of preventive medicine to dozens of young children.

In his presentation Dr. Cole talked of the nature of polio, the history behind the development of the Salk and Sabin vaccines and the quarter century effort on the part of Rotary International in alliance with the World Health Organization to eliminate the disease once and for all.

Since 1985, Rotary has contributed nearly US$1.2 billion to the protection of more than two billion children. From the time when 2500 new cases of polio were occurring each day, the world has reached the point at which fewer than 300 new cases are reported each year! For as little as 60 cents worth of vaccine, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life.

Determined to deliver a polio-free world in the next 5 years, world leaders have put into play The Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018. In 2007, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave The Rotary Foundation a $100 million challenge grant for polio eradication, and in 2009, increased it to $355 million. Rotary agreed to raise $200 million in matching funds by 30 June 2012, but Rotarians in fact raised $228.7 million toward the challenge. At this year's Rotary International Convention in Lisbon the Gates Foundation has presented Rotary with another 2 for 1 matching grant challenge to finish the job.

Learn more about the fight against polio by visiting http://www.endpolio.org