"Jab" we Meet - Points to Ponder
Mile stones :
1979 : 1st Polio campaign launched in the Philippines through 3-H programme.
1983 : RI Board and the trustees of the Rotary foundation approved the Polio Plus Programme.
1985 : Rotary International embarked on a 20 year programme to immunize the children of the world against Polio.
1986 : Council of Legislation endorsed decision to immunize all the children of the world against polio by centennial celebration in 2005.
1987 : World Health Assembly resolved to halt the transmission of the wild Polio virus by 2000. (Target 2000 : Polio free world) Partners : WHO, UNICEF, CDC and Rotary
1988 : Fundraising campaign by Rotary bringing in $ 247 millions in contributions.
Achievements :
Some two billion children have been vaccinated against Polio since the programme started.
Number of Polio endemic countries has decreased from 125 to just 4. (India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria)
From almost 1000 victims per day in 1985 (350000 victims per year) the Polio incidence is now 1651cases per year in 18 countries. (1505 in 4 endemic countries) in 2008.
We have reached almost 90% of the world’s children to protect them against Polio.
At this moment nearly three million children who might have been stricken with Polio are playing and enjoying life because they have been immunized.
To date the global investment in Polio eradication has been more than $ 5 billion through 2008. Rotary has provided nearly $ 620 million and we expect to have provided more than $ 670 million by the time polio is certified as eradicated. Rotary is the major non governmental organization involved in the programme through out the world.
Polio plus isn’t only the most ambitious programme in Rotary’s history, but it is also a special Rotary International Programme and has the highest priority in relation to all our other programmes until polio eradication certification is achieved. RI board of Directors and the council on Legislation have made these commitments repeatedly towards a concrete goal, Polio eradication.