34 British Rotarians are joining Rotary members in India for a major anti-polio vaccination drive. 170 million children, aged up to five years old, will be immunised in one day, 4th November, thanks to Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign.
The team members are funding their own airfares and ready to roll up their sleeves in the Delhi slums where hundreds of vaccination booths will be set up by local Rotarians and health agencies. The immunisation effort includes community outreach work to remote families.
Polio is crippling and can be fatal, mainly affecting children. Rotary works with WHO, CDC and Unicef as part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
Trip organiser Rotarian Mike Yates says there are many challenges ahead: "This trip is incredibly worthwhile and hard work. When we go out twice a year, we help save lives of tiny vulnerable children and support the exceptional work by Rotarians in this area who regularly run vaccination events. Our presence here helps them as much as it helps children and families.
"It is vital that we reach every single child. Although there have been no new cases for nearly two years, every child is at risk from infection from migrants who could be carrying this virus. Even flooding can impact on vaccination programmes, preventing people reaching high-risk areas. This does not deter Rotary. We will continue to give this life-saving treatment to children.
"India is off the endemic list but this does not mean the disease is gone. India needs to have three complete years with no new polio cases. During that time, and after, Rotary will keep immunising every child to spare them from a life of crippling disabilities and pain."
Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI) President John Minhinick said: "We sometimes take it for granted that polio is a thing of the past when in fact it is still a threat. There are still three endemic countries and the risk of re-infection is very much a reality.
"These tiny polio vaccine drops have a big impact. Not only are we saving the lives of the recipient children but also the lives of children around the world by preventing the spread of the virus. The drops cost just 20pence."
Everyone can help save lives. You can join your local Rotary club or donate to End Polio Now. To donate to End Polio Now or to join, visit ribi.org or contact your local Rotary club.
