PolioPlus Committee

Chair
Claire Little


IMPORTANT NEWS UPDATE

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.

The Rotary Foundation received a $100 million Gates Foundation challenge grant, which Rotary will raise funds to match, dollar for dollar, over three years.

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. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION TRUSTEES WILL PROVIDE A 50% MATCH OF INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND 100% MATCH OF DISTRICT DESIGNATED FUNDS THROUGH JUNE 2008. Contributions are tax deductible, help meet your Paul Harris committment or earn Foundation points. Contact Claire Little at clairejlittle@aol.com for further information.

The Polio Plus 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.

    Committee Members
    Claire Little
    Howard Adams
    Allea Thomas

    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@charter.net)

    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 $620 million and is expected to have contributed over $670 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.

    What District 5110 is Doing

    The District Foundation Committee has allocated $20,000 of 2008-2009 DDF to Polio Plus Partners Projects (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 Plus Partners. In addition, $10,000 has been committed by DG Tim to match individual donations to Polio Plus. Individual contributions go towards members’ Paul Harris achievements and earn Foundation points after the PH is awarded. Club and individual contributions will be matched at 50 cents on the dollar and District contributions will be matched dollar for dollar by the Rotary Foundation through June 2008. So, for example in 2007-2008, if clubs raise $5,000 and individuals contribute $5,000 to Polio Plus, the District will match with $10,000. Rotary International will add another $15,000 to the contribution for a total of $35,000 towards the cost of the final eradication of polio. There is every hope that the Foundation will continue some matching of Polio Plus contributions until the Gates challenge is met.

    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 Plus
  • Challenge individuals to contribute to Polio Plus Partner Projects – contributions earn Foundation points
  • 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: PolioPlus Committee

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