Rotary International: Dedicated to Eradicating Acute Michael Abdalla, MD, Orange, California

For the past four thousand years, the of cases of polio from 350,000 in 1988 tiny poliovirus has killed and disabled to 2,000 at the end of 2002. millions of children. Today, we are on During that time, the number of coun- the threshold of eradicating poliomye- tries harboring the wild poliovirus has litis, a frightening disease that histori- been reduced from 125 to 7. But as cally has been the world’s greatest long as there are new cases of polio cause of disability. anywhere in the world, every country Rotary International (RI) initiated the is at risk. The virus is only a plane ride effort to eradicate poliomyelitis in away and is not asked for its visa. 1985, when it launched its PolioPlus Three major challenges confront RI campaign, the first and largest inter- and its collaborators. nationally coordinated private sector campaign in support of a public health 1. Continuing to achieve cease-fires. initiative in the history of the world. In November of this past year, By 1988, Rotarians had contributed health workers carried out a $247 million to support the effort to National Immunization Day during eradicate only the second disease in a cease-fire in . history — the first being smallpox. 2. Maintaining political will to finish That accomplishment and early victo- the job in the face of a rapidly ries over the disease in Latin America disappearing disease. served as the catalyst for the 166 member countries of the World Health 3. Ensuring funding to buy oral polio Assembly to set the goal of eradicating vaccine and get it to the children. polio worldwide, with total certifica- The World Health Organization (WHO) tion by 2005. and UNICEF estimates that $1 billion RI has been the leading private sector is needed in the four-year period (2002- partner in the global effort to totally 2005) leading to an acute polio-free stop the transmission of the poliovirus. world. Governments and other private Rotary’s commitment of $500 million sector sources have pledged $725 mil- and leadership of ten million volun- lion of that sum, leaving a $275 million teers has helped to reduce the number funding gap. Each year of delay in reaching the last child can add more than $100-150 million to the total cost of the program. Michael Abdalla, MD ([email protected]), Orange Orthopedic Medical Group, Inc., is also a clinical professor at the The remaining endemic countries University of California at Irvine, where he directs the prosthetic/ include some of the world’s poorest amputee clinic. As a member of the Rotary Club of Orange since countries. They need financial help 1971, he has served as local president, district governor (D-5320), to buy oral polio vaccine, to deliver it a training leader, and a Technical Advisor to the 3-H Programs of house-to-house, and to establish the The Rotary Foundation. surveillance systems that pinpoint the He is currently Campaign National Coordinator remaining pockets of the disease. for Zones 23 and 24 on the West Coast of the .

4 Post-Polio Health Fall 2003, Vol. 19, No. 4 Rotary International’s 4-Way Test: Of the things we think, say, or do: 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

have seen the last case of wild polio- virus infection. Filling the funding gap The savings alone from not having to immunize children against polio in Twenty months ago, RI set a challeng- the future are potentially as high as US ing goal of raising $80 million from $1.5 billion per year — funds that could Rotarians in communities all over the be used to address other public health world, during the period from July 1, priorities. Once polio is eradicated, the 2002 to June 30, 2003. world can celebrate not only the eradi- Rotarians surpassed the $80 million cation of the second disease in human goal and have raised or committed history, but also the delivery of a global $111 million. More than $12 million public good. Every person, regardless was raised in the US West Coast region of race, sex, ethnicity, economic status, alone. The money will be significantly or religious belief, can benefit for all multiplied through a partnership with time from this accomplishment — the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation no matter where they live. l and through World Bank loans. Observing the results PSA — Polio Survivors and Associates Many Rotarians travel at their own expense to wave banners and walk Rotarian and polio survivor, PDG ’92-93 Ray Taylor, Pinehurst, in parades and to stand in market North Carolina, has received approval from Rotary Inter- stalls and public buildings to mobilize national for a Health/Medical Fellowship. Rotary Fellowships parents to bring their children in for are operated independently of Rotary International, and each immunization. They visit garbage fellowship has its own rules and administrative structure. dumps and slums and hike to remote The purpose of PSA — Polio Survivors and Associates is to villages to put drops in children’s create a support and communications network of Rotarians, mouths, so not one child is left out. spouses, and associates who are either survivors themselves “It was one of the great experiences or are active participants in polio-related worldwide programs. of my life,” says Anil Garg, an Indian They seek to assist individual Rotarians, Rotary Clubs, and immigrant and a member of the Rotary International in all phases of their polio programs, Rotary Club of Simi Valley, California, including Polio Eradication, PolioPlus, Polio Partners, World who organized 36 people to go to Community Service, etc., by establishing an information and India. “There were 2.6 million volun- support network for survivors and through increasing the teers, 100,000 of them Rotarians, in awareness of polio and the continuing condition and needs 650,000 booths who immunized close of polio survivors. to 140 million children in two days.” Rotarians, Rotoractors, or spouses are invited to become WHO recently announced that there members. Associate members may be anyone with an active are now (2003) only six countries that interest in the subject who agrees to abide by RI policies. All are polio endemic and they believe members must register with the Fellowship on the Internet, that by the end of 2004 the world will at www.taranto.com/mailman/listinfo/psa.

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