Cautious celebrations are underway as India marks two years without any new polio cases.
The last new case of the crippling and sometimes fatal virus was recorded 13th January 2011 when a tiny two year old girl was diagnosed.The success of a determined and consistent polio vaccination campaign by Rotary and its partners means that India could be declared officially polio free in January next year by the World Health Organisation.
Despite this light at the end of a long and twisting tunnel, nobody is complacent. Rotarians across Great Britain, Ireland and the rest of the world will continue vaccinating every child and fundraising to support the End Polio Now campaign with the same drive and conviction which has been present since the 1980s when the pledge to eradicate the virus was made.
Even now, over 30 Rotary members from Yorkshire are in Delhi, ready to take part in one of many National Immunisation Days where millions of tiny children aged under 5 years old will be protected against polio. They will be stationed in vaccination booths and will also reach out to remote communities in a bid to help local Rotarians and health workers find every child and give them the life-saving medication. Next month, another group will be making the journey, offering yet more vital support to local members.
Rotary International has been leading the war against polio for over 25 years. In that time the number of endemic countries has been reduced from 125 to just three: Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria where threats of conflict and a migratory population enable the disease to pass from person to person.
India’s success in remaining polio free for two years demonstrates that the disease can be brought under control, provided that communities, governments and volunteers work together.
Your local Rotary club is always looking for support and will be playing an active role in bringing the curtain down on polio. You can help by joining Rotary or by donating to End Polio Now. Clubs welcome new members and next month will see an explosion of activity around the 23rd of February when clubs across the world will mark the 108th birthday of Rotary.
Discover your local Rotary club and find new friends, new challenges and new ways to help communities at home and overseas.
