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What is the Rotary PolioPlus Initiative?
When Rotary launched PolioPlus in 1985, the “plus” signaled the belief that the polio eradication effort would increase immunizations against five other diseases prevalent in children: measles, tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus.
As time went on, the list of benefits grew. Polio immunization campaigns created an avenue for other lifesaving health interventions, such as distributing vitamin A supplements.
New equipment for transporting and storing vaccines made it easier to combat infectious diseases in developing areas. The enormous network of laboratories and health clinics charged with identifying new polio cases began to monitor the spread of other viruses as well.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which Rotary helped create, rose to international prominence as a model for public-private partnerships to address world health issues.
What Does the "Plus" in PolioPlus Mean?
The “plus” in PolioPlus means that Rotarians are doing more than stopping the spread of polio in the last few countries. It is endemic; they are also building a legacy of infrastructure and partnerships to support the fight against infectious disease long after polio is gone.
You can learn more about Rotary's global efforts to eradicate polio here: https://www.rotary.org/en/our-causes/ending-polio