World Polio Eradication Update

Posted by Ian Simpson 
on Sep 23, 2013
 
ENDPOLIONOW_4pPosted by Ian Simpson, Rotary Foundation Director
Rotarians need to combine to finish the job of eradicating polio in our world by 2018.

The administration of oral vaccine to protect against polio costs around $1 a child and a $1000 contribution to Polio vaccinates 1000 children for lifetime immunity.

The history of poliomyelitis (polio or infantile paralysis) infections extends into prehistory.  Although major polio epidemics were unknown before the 20th century, the disease has caused paralysis, misery and death for much of human history.

Many readers would remember their early school days when some classmates with residual pImageolio paralysis wore callipers on their legs to compensate for lost function.  And the iron lung, which saved many thousands of lives during the polio epidemics, was one of the features of ‘side-show ally’ on the local show circuit.

The cost of ending polio is around one billion dollars a year and while Rotary does not have to foot the entire bill, we certainly have to play our part.