In 1979 Rotary immunized 6 Mio children in the Philippines against Polio and in 1985 launched Polio Plus in order to immunize all children in the world. To date more than US$ 9 Billion has been invested in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative under the umbrella of the WHO, UNICEF and the CDC. Of this Rotary International jointly with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have raised more than US $ 1 Billion (Rand 7000 Million!).

These contributions have reduced the incidence of polio by 99% and built an infrastructure used beyond the scope of polio eradication.

Rotary District 9350 extends from the Storms River to Angola and this year, two cases of Polio have been reported there.  Globally there have been 67 cases reported against 51 for the same period last year.
National Polio Eradication Week in South Africa is a concerted campaign led by the Department of Health to raise awareness on immunization and the prevention of polio.

Dangerous childhood diseases such as measles and polio, with potential fatal complications especially in small children can be prevented most effectively. Immunizations for childhood vaccine preventable diseases are available free of charge at public health clinics.

The last case of polio was reported in South Africa in 1989. But as long as there are still cases of wild poliovirus anywhere in the world, polio can easily be imported and spread within a polio free country if all children have not been fully vaccinated.

Issued by the The Rotary Club of Knysna, PR Department

klews@mweb.co.za
www.knysnarotary.co.za

4 April 2011