DW-Rotary
The Rotary Club of Estevan is bringing attention to the service group’s ongoing efforts to eradicate polio around the world.
World Polio Day is Oct. 24. Since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative began in the late 1980s, the polio rates have plunged to the point where only a few dozen cases of the wild polio virus are diagnosed each year.
When the initiative started, about 1,000 children were paralyzed every day around the world by polio.
“Since then, we’ve made great progress,” said Rotary Club of Estevan president Allison Holzer. “Polio cases have dropped by 99.9 per cent, from 350,000 cases in 1988 in 125 countries, down to 33 cases of the wild polio virus in 2018 in just two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
Holzer noted the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has partnered with Rotary on polio eradication. Holzer cited a quote from Bill Gates that says, “We are achingly close to getting rid of polio. More than 99 per cent of the way there. Finishing the job is a big challenge, but it’s very doable … if we keep up the effort.”
For every dollar Rotary commits to polio eradication, the Gates Foundation will provide $2, up to $50 million per year. So a donation of $25 would result in a $75 contribution.
That money can be used to help volunteers administer vaccines to children; it could result in 75 vaccine carriers to keep the vaccine cool and effective; or could also supply 600 purple finger markers, which are used on children’s pinky fingers to show that they’ve been immunized.
Holzer stressed that eradicating polio would improve lives, create a safer world for children, improve child health, save money on future health costs and make history.
“Polio eradication would be one of history’s greatest public health achievements, with polio following smallpox to become only the second human disease eliminated from the world,” Holzer.
The Polio Plus initiative provides a hand-operated bicycle for polio survivors to get around. It can also be used for additional medical treatments or clean water. In 2010 it was discovered that Vitamin A drops given to children at the same time improved immunity to infectious diseases.
The local club gives $1,000 from the fines it collects at meetings, and another $2,000 from the club’s foundation.
“It’s a good feeling to be part of something so close to eradication,” said Holzer.
In previous years, the local club has held events in the community to mark World Polio Day, but this year it is creating awareness in the public about it’s efforts to bring an end to polio.
