Polio Eradication Committee

Chair
Claire Little


The Polio Eradication Committee:

  • Supports Rotary International’s goal of eradicating polio throughout the world.
  • Communicates information in the fight against polio with Clubs in the District and encourages support of Polio Plus Partners as they focus on the last few endemic areas.
  • Encourages Club support of local education for early childhood immunization for all preventable childhood diseases as a complement to the successful Shots for Tots program in Central Oregon.

The Committee Provides updated information to clubs regarding the polio eradication efforts started by Rotary in 1985 which has been successful in eliminating the endemic wild polio virus in all but four countries to date (Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan). Publicizes opportunities for Rotarians to participate in eradication efforts, including National Immunization Days. Encourages and oversees Rotarians contributions as part of the current effort to match the $100 million Gates Foundation Grant.

Committee Members
Howard Adams
Jim Dunn
Claire Little
Jim McCluskey

POLIO ERADICATION IS ROTARY INTERNATIONAL'S TOP PRIORITY FOR 2008-2009

BREAKING NEWS!

District 5110 Rotarians interested in participating in a National Immunizations Days effort in India have two opportunities thanks to Elias Thomas III from District 7780. Elias is a past District Governor and currently the Zone 31 Co-ordinator - $100 million challenge. Elias has led teams of Rotarians and Friends of Rotary to India several times before and is planning two trips to India - in February and March of 2009. Places on the team usually fill quickly so if you would like to go, contact Elias at ethomas@metrocast.net or eliasthomas@hotmail.com. Visit his blog spot for details of his recent trip http://rotarydreamteam-india2008.blogspot.com.

Brad Howard, of Howard Tours, is also leading an NID to the Ivory Coast in November, 2008. Rotarians joining this tour will also be able to participate in 2008 WEST AFRICA PROJECT FAIR. Additional details can be found at http://www.howardtours.net/west_africa_project_fair_and_nid1.htm

Are you interested in forming an all District 5110 team to participate in National Immunization Days in either India or Africa? Rotarians always have the opportunity to join already organized teams but if District 5110 has 40 or more Rotarians willing to travel together, we can form our own team. Please communicate your interest to Claire Little at (541) 265-2100 or clairejlittle@aol.com

IMPORTANT NEWS UPDATE


Bill Gates in India

Rotary International announced a partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on 26 November that will inject a much needed US$200 million into the global effort to eradicate polio.

Polio eradication remains Rotary International's top priority. The Chairman of The Rotary Foundation urges districts to contribute District Dedicated Funds to the PolioPlus Program. All DDF donated to PolioPlus will be put towards Rotary's US$100 Million Challenge to match the generous gift from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. As an incentive, The Rotary Foundation Trustees have agreed to match US$0.50 for each US$1.00 of DDF that districts contribute to the Challenge up to US$3 million annually for the next three years. For District 5110 Rotarians, every $1.00 contribution to PolioPlus can become $5.00 with District, TRF and Gates Foundation matching.

Rotary will spend the initial $100 million within one year in direct support of immunization activities carried out by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative , spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO) , Rotary International, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , and UNICEF .

YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS EARMARKED FOR POLIOPLUS WILL BE MATCHED UP TO $30,000 AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL THROUGH JUNE 2009. Contributions are tax deductible, help you reach your first Paul Harris or earn Foundation points. Contact Claire Little at clairejlittle@aol.com for further information.

We are currently looking for interested Rotarians from around the District to join the committee. Please contact Claire Little at (541) 265-2100 or email clairelittle@aol.com)

What’s Happening in the War Against Polio?

Although the first known cases of polio in the United States were reported in the early 1900s, it was the massive outbreaks of the disease in the late forties and early fifties that brought the country’s attention to the devastation of polio. By the late fifties and early sixties, after the development of polio vaccine, U.S. cases of polio decline dramatically and the U.S. joined other developed countries declared polio free.

Because our communities have not seen a case of polio for many decades doesn’t mean that the job is done or that there is no further danger from polio. Our increasingly mobile populations mean that polio could be carried from an endemic country in the time it takes for an airline flight. Until polio is eradicated everywhere, children everywhere are at risk.

Challenges

  • Distrust of outsiders and fear of the effect of the vaccine has hindered vaccination in some areas
  • The remaining endemic countries are among the most war-torn and populous countries on earth; some of these areas are inaccessible except by primitive forms of transportation or on foot
  • Re-infection of previously polio free countries remains a threat – there have been 64 cases of the virus exported to other countries over the last several years, the most recent in May 2007 in Australia where an 18 year old male was identified as having polio – remember “Polio is only a plane ride away”
  • In polio free countries, complacency has resulted in failure to immunize some young children under school age. This could lead to an increased risk for the re-emergence of polio and other childhood diseases

    The eradication of polio remains one of Rotary International’s top priorities. The original goal was to complete eradication by 2005 but there were complications that delayed the completion. Only four countries remain endemic – India, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. These are some of the most populous, remote or politically unstable areas of the world. Governments in endemic areas are cooperating with health organizations and are mobilized to immunize all children, using strategies appropriate to their areas. Local Rotarians, government and health care workers in cooperation with religious leaders are often the most effective in reaching children in some of these areas.

    How is Rotary Helping

    To date, the global investment in polio eradication has been more than $5 billion. Rotary has provided nearly $700 million and is expected to have contributed over $850 by the time polio is completely eradicated. A Rotary program, Polio Plus Partners, funnels donations through the World Health Organization or UNICEF in grants authorized by the Rotary Foundation Trustees. Money given to Polio Plus Partners is used by Rotarians for social mobilization for National Immunization Day uniforms with their recognizable Rotary colors and for other essentials such as whistles or crayons to give to children, megaphones to announce the presence of health workers or transportation to take precious vaccine to where it is needed.

    Visit the Website

    What District 5110 is Doing

    The District Foundation Committee has allocated $20,000 of 2008-2009 DDF to Polio Eradication(as suggested by 2007-2008 RI President Wilf) as a challenge grant to match, dollar for dollar, funds donated by District 5110 Clubs to Polio Eradication. Individual contributions go towards members’ first Paul Harris and earn Foundation points after the PH is awarded.

    How District 5110 Clubs Can Help

    Keep the case for the eradication of polio in front of every Rotarian. Because our community hasn’t seen a case of polio for many decades doesn’t mean that the job is done or that there is no further danger from polio

  • Meet the District challenge and contribute to Polio Eradication
  • Challenge individuals to contribute to Polio Eradication – contributions earn Foundation points. Involve community members by holding and publicizing fundraisers for Polio. Some ideas already happening around the District - Pizza for Polio, Pins (bowling) for Polio and Pennies for Polio. Share your ideas with the rest of the District by emailing clairejlittle@aol.com.
  • Partner with local health departments for early childhood vaccinations. There is a growing incidence of children not receiving immunizations until required by schools for admission. This is especially true amongst our immigrant populations. There are also some children who are not reached because their families can not afford the cost of immunization. This exposes very young children to unnecessary risk of childhood diseases including polio. IF CHILDREN ARE NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECTED BY IMMUNIZATION – REMEMBER - THE NEXT CASE OF POLIO COULD BE JUST A PLANE RIDE AWAY. Clubs can provide a vital role in helping educate the community and subsidizing local programs that provide low or no cost immunization for young children.

    With the recent Challenge Grant to Rotary International of 100 Million Dollars from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the time is now to complete the Global Polio Eradication mission Read More -->

    WHAT CAN WE DO NOW?

    Our Rotary Foundation Newsletter on Polio Effort <<--click here

    Committee Details: PolioEradication