Polio Plus Partners

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History of PolioPlus

Rotary's involvement in polio eradication began in 1979 with a five-year commitment to provide and help deliver polio vaccine to six million children of the Philippines. It was the first project of the new Health, Hunger, and Humanity (3-H) program. In the next four years, similar five-year commitments were approved for Haiti, Bolivia, Morocco, Sierra Leone, and Cambodia.

In the early 1980s, Rotary began planning for the most ambitious program in its history — to immunize all of world's children against polio. The plan required collaboration with international, national, and local health agencies and took shape early in Carlos Canseco’s year as RI President in 1984-85 when he appointed the Polio 2005 Committee. Dr. Canseco invited Dr. Albert Sabin, developer of the oral polio vaccine, to serve as a special consultant to the committee.

Rotary's pledge of US$120 million to fund its PolioPlus program was announced in October 1985 at the 40th anniversary of the United Nations. This ambitious commitment electrified the global public health community. Within three years, Rotarians had more than doubled their fundraising goal, donating US$247 million. By the time the world is certified polio-free, Rotary's contributions to the global polio eradication effort will exceed US$600 million.

Rotary's role in polio eradication continues to evolve. Initially its role was that of a catalyst, providing money for vaccine and volunteer support to overcome problems associated with distribution. A Rotary Foundation grant funded a core group of polio experts at the World Health Organization (WHO), who have guided the global program. In more recent years, PolioPlus funds have funded transportation and other operational costs associated with vaccine delivery, surveillance efforts (including laboratory needs) to identify areas where the virus circulates, and training for healthcare workers and volunteers involved in the immunization process.

In 1995, Rotary launched a task force to advocate political and financial support for polio eradication to donor governments. Working in conjunction with the other spearheading partner agencies, these public sector advocacy efforts have resulted in mobilizing more than $1.5 billion in polio-specific grants.

In 2000, Rotary teamed up with the United Nations Foundation to carry a financial appeal to the private sector — foundations, corporations, and wealthy individuals.As the war on polio enters its final phases, adequate funding is the No. 1 obstacle to achieving a polio-free world. In February 2002, Rotary rose to the challenge once again, announcing a Polio Eradication Fundraising Campaign to raise US$80 million to contribute to ongoing global polio eradication budget needs.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is recognized worldwide as a model of public and private cooperation in pursuit of a humanitarian goal. In the words of United Nations General Secretary Kofi Annan, "Rotary's PolioPlus program is a shining example of the achievements made possible by cooperation between the United Nations and non-governmental organizations."

PolioPlus Partners Information

PolioPlus Partners is a Rotary Foundation Program by which Rotary clubs, districts and individual Rotarians may voluntarily assist in reaching Rotary's goal of a polio-free world. They support the immunization activities of Rotary and its world-wide partners, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by keeping Rotarians informed of progress, promoting accurate media coverage, volunteering in National Immunization Days (NIDs) and providing needed resources in regions with, or at risk, for polio.

District 5240 has taken on a Polio Plus Project (Project ID: P306NGA001) supporting Nigerian National Immunization Day. This Project will consist in raising money for Banneers, Posters, Armbands, Radio Aids and other items for Social Mobilizatiuon for this Project.

The goal iof this project is to raise $390,075. For more information on how to help in this project, please call or E-mail: PDG Brenda Cressey (805) 238-4264; brenda@tcsn.net or PDG Otto Austel (805) 527-7130; oaustel@aol.com.

Eradication Status

There are significant reasons to be optimistic about achieving our goal of global polio eradication by the end of this year.

1. The number of polio cases has been reduced by a projected 99 percent since Rotary and partner agencies formed the global polio eradication initiative — from 350,000 in 1988 to fewer than 1300 in 2004.

2. Three of six regions of the world are free of the wild poliovirus.

3. Despite intensive surveillance efforts, one of the three types of viruses (Type II) that cause polio has not been seen since 1999. Could it be that it has already been eradicated? The World Health Organization will continue to promote active surveillance to determine this possibility.

Nevertheless, significant challenges lie ahead, including immunizing all children — even those in remote, conflict areas — maintaining political commitment to polio eradication. Given the tremendous progress so far achieved, the prospects of achieving global polio eradication are high. Rotary looks forward to providing all children with a permanent gift — a world free of polio.

For more statistical information on polio eradication, download Rotary's Facts and Figures and visit the World Health Organization's polio eradication Web site. For other questions or program updates, contact PolioPlus staff.

National Immunization Days Polio-free countries

Because of the continued financial needs for polio eradication, Rotarians from polio-free countries who wish to help eradicate polio should give preference to providing financial assistance to PolioPlus. Any Rotarian who wants to volunteer at a National Immunization Day should first read the Travel Guidelines from William T. Sergeant, chairman of the International PolioPlus Committee.

To view a list of countries that plan to conduct National Immunization Day activities, visit the World Health Organization's polio eradication Web site. Once a country has been selected, contact that country's national PolioPlus committee chairperson to determine whether local Rotarians have the capacity to support your group's visit. Remember, the primary responsibility of the national PolioPlus committee chairperson is to support polio eradication activities in his or her country. No other tasks must interfere with that responsibility. For national PolioPlus committees' contact information and to update Rotary International of your visit, contact PolioPlus staff.

Polio-endemic countries

Rotarians from polio-endemic countries should contact their district and/or national PolioPlus chairpersons (listed in the RI Official Directory) to determine how they can best help. District PolioPlus chairpersons frequently develop a list of social mobilization needs that are potential PolioPlus Partners projects. For example, Rotarians may help mobilize volunteers to publicize immunization activities, prepare meals for healthcare workers, distribute vaccine, or report suspected cases of polio to health authorities.