In 1970 I joined Emporia’s Rotary Club which is a part of RI, Rotary International. A little more than 30 years ago RI, took the leadership role in the first global polio eradication campaign by forming partnerships capable of accomplishing that massive goal.
Emporia’s club has done annual assessments and fundraisers repeatedly. We have never failed to have Polio Plus cups on every table at every meeting for loose change.
It probably doesn’t hurt that others like the World Health Organization and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have joined the effort which is nearly completed!
RI President Jennifer Jones recently reported that Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two counties where poliovirus is still an epidemic. 99.9% of polio cases worldwide have been eradicated, but there are still challenges like vaccinating an estimated 43 million children under 5 for starters; and dealing with new cases arising recently in Israel, the United Kingdom, and amazingly in New York City.
President Jones is challenging Rotary Clubs to raise $50 million this year! The Gates Foundation has offered a two-for-one match to hopefully launch the final push to complete worldwide eradication!
Polio Plus and Rotary are doing even more to assist victims. To learn the rest of the story about Polio Plus, Google: Polio Plus and prepare to be amazed.
Polio broke out in the U.S. in 1916 with 27,000 cases reported and more than 6,000 deaths. By 1918 movie theaters were closing, meetings were being canceled and public gatherings were dwindling. Children avoided swimming pools and water fountains.
In 1949 a new polio epidemic hit selected populations leaving children in wheelchairs, on crutches, or using leg braces.
One out of a thousand children experienced paralysis! In 1952 over 57,000 cases were reported and iron lungs were introduced to curb affixation.
Finally, in 1954 the vaccine for poliovirus was developed by private labs and the disease was eradicated, but it took 20 years.
This is wonderful story featuring Rotary International. If you are in a similar organization and have a story to tell about your good works call me KVOE so we can talk. I’ll make this time available.
Kudos to Rotary but also to Bill and Melinda Gates. I couldn’t find the number but I’m pretty sure their contribution just to end polio is over a billion dollars. Regardless of what you think of Bill Gates that is pretty cool.
I’m Steve Sauder
