End Polio Now
If polio is not completely eradicated, 100%, the chances that it will come back are 100%. The polio virus needs a human host, and if it does not find one within seven days of being released from its last host, it will die. This virus does not discriminate in hosts: it will move in whether the host is young, old, rich, poor, male or female, sickly or in good health.
Each case which is reported represents about 200 unreported cases, since many people are hardly affected by the virus, but still can carry it. One case is considered as a possible epidemic. Those 200 cases, if untreated, will have become 200,000 cases in ten years, and 10 million cases of paralysis within 40 years.
The three countries where polio is stubbornly resisting eradication, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan, are still offering immunity-lacking hosts. Because it is highly infectious, polio keeps on occurring. But Rotary has been able to partner with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
So far, Polio Plus efforts have made a huge difference in the world, and have brought us to the tipping point in complete eradication of the disease. Hence, the 1%, the few, but crucial few, who are not yet immune to polio, and are thus its potential host and breeding ground for its lethal return.
In 1984, there were 350,000 deaths or cases where paralysis occurred. In 2013, so far only 334 cases have been reported, worldwide.
Not only do Polio Plus fighters conquer polio. They also build an inoculating infrastructure where three other world-wide epidemic diseases can be attacked. The three are: one, influenza (the flu, type A); two, SARS (severe acute respiratory symptoms); and three, smallpox. The last case of that was reported in 1978. This safe passage map and its way-stations can be used to fight new epidemics too, such as bird (avian) flu.
Julie, a polio survivor herself, gave us an update on where we are now, with our polio partners.
Although we thought we had confined polio to three countries, an outbreak of 30 cases in war-torn refugee-ridden Syria in October is cause for great concern. These areas give great concern for security issues for the immunization workers.
The Taliban in Pakistan has forbidden the vaccine to be given, and has gunned down three who were working with children at schools. The speaker was near tears as she told us this, but she continued with the good news that we are at the end-game phase of the strategy of the war against polio.
Still, it will take an estimated $4.5 billion to finish the job and to continue yearly new immunizations. It will take every Rotarian’s active efforts to raise this. The following steps need to be taken.
One, raise public awareness that we are at the tipping point of ending polio. In Germany for example, the red intercity trains have their cars painted all over with slogans saying, “End Polio now.”
Making everyone aware of this last effort means engaging religious leaders and the support of traditional leaders. In Saudi Arabia, the government decreed that no one could go on the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, known as the haaj, unless they had been immunized.
Second, raise funds. When this project as first adopted, the Downey Club was one of the first in the District to donate. Don Davis was the president in 1987-88, and Bill Kirkwood, as one the Board members, remembers Don saying to them, ‘Guys, we have to do this.” Our club raised $48,000 that year, and some of the major fundraisers then were Angelo Cardono, Art Morris, Ralph Granata and Papa John Persico.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has not only given billions to Rotary International’s Polio Plus, but now have announced a new matching program. They will match 2 for 1, that is, for every $1 a Rotarian gives, they will give $2. Incredibly great odds.
Our club’s goal will be to raise $5200 annually just for this cause. To do it, we can tap into several sources: new members, the general public, the corporate and private sector. Julie left us with the conviction that this is a “do-able” program