Working Together to End Polio

Wed, Oct 31st 2018 at 10:45 am - 10:45 am

The Rotary Organisation has been involved in the fight to eradicate polio since 1988. We are nearly there but there is still more to do. Polio Champion John Dunkley brings us up to date.


Working Together to End Polio

The Rotary Organisation has a proud record of involvement in the drive to end polio, not just through fundraising but practical help with immunisation and negotiation such as a ceasefire with the Taliban in Afganistan and Pakistan to allow children to be vaccinated.  After the eradication of polio in the Phillipines Rotary International saw the possibility of worldwide eradication and in 1988 became a leading player in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.  Working with the World Health Organisation and national governments it has seen polio cases fall from 1000 a day in 1988 to only 20 so far this year.

On  World Polio Day on 24th October local Polio Champion John Dunkley’s central message to members of the Rotary Club of South Foreland was that while great progress had been made, all partners involved must work together to finish the job.  Images of a whole ward of children encased in iron lungs and children wearing callipers was a reminder of the suffering caused by polio in this country in the 1950s and 60s.  The polio virus is easily spread so continued vaccination and surveillance in countries at risk must continue.  The virus can live for three years so only after three years from the last occurring case will the world be free of polio.  It will cost $50 million each year in order to achieve this.

When a child receives the life saving polio drops their little finger is painted with a purple dye to show that they have been vaccinated.  John has been involved in the Purple4Polio campaign since its inception in 2010/11 when Rotary Clubs were encouraged to plant purple crocus corms throughout the country; since then the crocus has become the symbol of Rotary’s fight to end polio and a variety of Purple4Polio events have been held.  To mark the day South Foreland Rotarians wore purple items of clothing and the façade of the Marina Hotel, where the meeting was held, was illuminated with purple light.

We have some crocus corms surplus to requirement so any school, youth group or other local organisation which might like some for planting please ring John at 01304611773.

 

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