How Rotary is eradicating polio
How Rotary is eradicating polio
PolioPlus, the most ambitious programme in Rotary's history, is the volunteer arm of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Since 1985, Rotary has led the private sector in the global effort to rid the world of this crippling disease. Today, PolioPlus and its role in the initiative is recognised worldwide as a model of public-private co-operation in pursuit of a humanitarian goal.
In addition to providing financial and volunteer support, Rotary works to urge support from other public and private sector partners, for example the extraordinary challenge grants received from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Rotary is involved in all four key strategies for stopping poliovirus transmission:
- Routine immunisation
High infant-immunisation coverage with four doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV) in the first year of life is critical. Routine immunisation is essential because it is the primary way that polio-free countries protect their children from the threat of imported polio. - National Immunisation Days
For decades, Rotary's PolioPlus program has been one of the driving forces during National Immunisation Days, or NIDs. Rotarians are involved in myriad ways before, during, and after an NID, by providing funds for millions of drops of vaccine, promoting upcoming campaigns in the community, distributing vaccine to local health centres, serving as monitors, working with local officials to reach every child, and participating in surveillance efforts. - Surveillance
Rotarians play an important role in working with health workers, pediatricians, and others, to find, report, and investigate cases of acute flaccid paralysis, ideally within 48 hours of onset. PolioPlus sometimes helps fund containers that preserve the integrity of stool samples during transport to laboratories. The programme has also played a leading role in providing equipment for the global poliovirus laboratory. - Targeted mop-up campaigns
Rotary's support of mop-up campaigns is similar to NID volunteering, but on a smaller, often house-to-house scale.
There are many challenges to polio eradication. Health experts agree that these primary challenges must be overcome in order to reach the goal of polio eradication:
- Halting the spread of the poliovirus in the four remaining endemic countries, Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan, which continue to export it to polio-free areas.
- Curbing the intense spread of the poliovirus in northern Nigeria and western Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Rapidly stopping polio outbreaks in previously polio-free countries.
- Addressing low routine-immunisation rates and surveillance gaps in polio-free areas.
- Maintaining funding and political commitment to implement the eradication strategies.
You can help bring an end to this crippling and life-threatening virus by joining your local Rotary club or donating to the campaign.
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Guardian Article |  |