Rotary and its partners in the global polio eradication initiative have made great strides to reduce polio cases by 99.9% worldwide over the past 35 years, and we've reduced the circulation of wild polio to just Pakistan and Afghanistan.
From encouraging vaccine acceptance by sharing factual vaccination information, to calling on elected officials to fund polio eradication, there are so many ways in which we can each support polio eradication efforts. We must all do our part to prevent polio outbreaks in our own communities and continue the march toward global eradication.
Yet, while wild polio only continues to circulate in Afghanistan and Pakistan, last year polio was detected in several countries that haven't seen the virus for many years. Polio outbreaks in the US, UK, and Israel serve as a stark reminder that as long as polio exists anywhere, it remains a threat to people everywhere.
While I am certain that most Rotarians in District 6250 are aware of the statistics quoted in this article, now that we’re in the endgame of polio eradication we must focus on the individual children who are the victims of this crippling disease. Relying solely on the medical and scientific solution will not accomplish the complete eradication of polio; placing the spotlight on the infant and young human faces of this disease will provide the needed force to END POLIO NOW.
We have an opportunity to make history by ending polio, which will be only the second human disease ever to be eradicated. The time for action is now—visit endpolio.org to learn more about how you can get involved.
(Author Ed Futa is a former Rotary International Director/Other details from RI Resources)
