Posted by Richard L. Roberts
The rate of the transmission of the disease in India, and in the other countries to a certain degree, is phenomenal, primarily due to poor sanitation and water contaminated with feces. It is important to eradicate in each village as the families tend to migrate where the jobs are and carry the disease to areas that may have been cleaned of the disease in the past.
The 20 million volunteer/paid workers, many of whom are Rotarians, worldwide are keeping the disease under control. In India, there are 4 million volunteer and low paid polio workers who are challenged by Muslim families, the man rules, who often think that the program is a threat from America. The workers must make several visits to find the children and convince the patriarchs and grandmothers of the need. Convincing the local Imam that the vaccine will eliminate crippled children suffering from the disease and encouraging him to announce to his congregation that "two drops for life" is the right thing to do has been very helpful.
This eradication of polio program is the largest non-military effort in the history of the world. The effort, initiated by RI in the mid-eighties, has come a long way; only a few pockets of infection are left but they are tough ones to get under control and money and continued focus is always needed. To learn more, go to the RI web site.
