Robin Magee - An update on our effort to eradicate Polio from the world.

Kilmarnock Rotary recently heard about global efforts to combat polio. Club member and retired GP Dr Robin Magee described how Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 30 years and has made incredible progress in the fight to rid the world of this pernicious disease forever.

As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and working with partners like the World Health Organisation and the Bill Gates foundation, Rotary has helped to reduced polio cases by more than 99.9 percent. Robin told members that 10 billion doses have been administered to 3 billion children over the years. As a result of these efforts polio cases have reduced from 350,000 a few years ago to just 60 last year, all in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is estimated that around 18 million people around the world are able to walk who would otherwise have contacted the disease had the eradication programme not been in place.

If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year. It’s crucial to eliminate polio from the last two countries where it remains endemic and to keep other countries polio-free, and Rotary and others continue to fundraise to support the vaccination programme. 

If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.

A fascinating and highly relevant talk well received by members.

The photo shows Robin Magee with club president David Johnstone