Special Rotary Contributor

Poliomyelitis (polio) is a paralyzing and potentially fatal disease that still threatens children in a few parts of the world. The polio virus invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. It can strike at any age but mainly affects children under 5. Polio is incurable, but completely vaccine preventable.In 1985, Rotary International launched its Polio Plus program, the first initiative to tackle global polio eradication through mass vaccination of children. Rotary has contributed more than $1.5 billion and countless volunteer hours to immunize more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. In addition, Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by donor governments to contribute more than $7.2 billion to the effort.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative, formed in 1988, is a public-private partnership that includes Rotary, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and governments of the world. Rotary’s focus is advocacy, fundraising, volunteer recruitment and awareness building.

Today, there are only two countries that have never stopped transmission of the wild polio virus: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Less than 30 cases were confirmed in 2016, which is a reduction of more than 99.9 percent since the mid 1980s, when the world saw about 1,000 cases per day. The polio cases represented by the remaining one tenth of 1 percent are the most difficult to prevent, due to factors including geographical isolation, poor public infrastructure, armed conflict and cultural barriers. Until polio is eradicated, all countries remain at risk of outbreaks.

Every dollar Rotary commits will be matched two-to-one by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation up to $35 million per year through 2018. These funds help to provide much needed operational support, medical personnel, laboratory equipment and educational materials for health workers and parents. Governments, corporations and private individuals all play a crucial role in funding.

More than one million Rotary members have donated their time and personal resources to end polio. Every year, hundreds of Rotary members work side-by-side with health workers to vaccinate children in polio affected countries. Rotary members work with UNICEF and other partners to prepare and distribute mass communication tools to reach people in areas isolated by conflict, geography or poverty. Rotary members also recruit fellow volunteers, assist with transporting the vaccine and provide other logistical support.

Today, Rotary is “This Close” to eradicating polio. Despite occasional disheartening setbacks — Nigeria reported it first three cases of polio since 2014 six months ago — Rotary remains more committed than ever to finishing the job and wiping polio from the face of the earth forever.