In the mid-1980s, polio was virtually eliminated from the United States and several other “First World” nations; but the virus still infected an estimated 338,000 people annually, leaving death, disfigurement and permanent disability in its wake. It was about that time that Rotary International and individual Rotary clubs around the world took on the bold task of eliminating polio from the face of the Earth.
Fast forward to today. The campaign to eliminate polio has been joined and strengthened by many strategic partners — The World Health Organization, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and governments from inflicted and noninflicted countries alike.
kAmx? 42=6?52C J62C a_`a[ E96C6 H6C6 @?=J aaa ?6H 42D6D @7 A@=:@ C6A@CE65 :? E96 H@C=5] %9:D J62C[ E@ 52E6[ E96C6 92G6 @?=J 366? EH@ ?6H 42D6D]k^Am
kAmxE 92D E2<6? ?62C=J Sg 3:==:@? 2?5 D4@C6D @7 =:G6D E@ 86E E@ E96 A@:?E H96C6 H6 2C6 ?@H[ 3FE 6IEC2A@=2E:?8 7C@> E96 :?4:56?46 7:8FC6D @7 E96 `hg_D[ E96 A@=:@ 6C25:42E:@? 42>A2:8? 92D D2G65 h >:==:@? A6@A=6 7C@> 364@>:?8 :?764E65 3J E9:D 9@CC:7:4 G:CFD[ D2G65 9F?5C65D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 =:G6D[ 2?5 AC6G6?E65 >:==:@?D @7 A6@A=6 — AC:>2C:=J 49:=5C6? — 7C@> A6C>2?6?E A9JD:42= :>A2:C>6?E]k^Am
kAm!@=:@ 92D :?7=:4E65 9F>2?<:?5 D:?46 367@C6 E96 AJC2>:5D @7 t8JAE H6C6 3F:=Ej A@DD:3=J =@?8 367@C6] xE’D E2<6? =@?86C E92? 2?E:4:A2E65 E@ <?@4< 5@H? A@=:@ E@ :ED =2DE 6?56>:4 DEC@?89@=5D] qFE H6’C6 2=>@DE E96C6]k^Am
kAmx 2> 2H65 3J #@E2CJ’D 56E6C>:?2E:@? 2?5 A6CD:DE6?46 @? E9:D AC@;64E] xE AC@323=J :D E96 C62D@? H9J x 2> 2 #@E2C:2? E@52J]k^Am
kAm(:E9 D@ >2?J G:@=6?E 2?5 EC@F3=:?8 6G6?ED :? E96 H@C=5[ :E D9@F=5 8C2?E D@>6 C6=:67 E@ <?@H E92E E96C6 2C6 8@@5 A6@A=6 @FE E96C6 5@:?8 E9:?8D E@ 3C:?8 FD 2== E@86E96C 2D 2 962=E9J[ 9F>2? DA64:6D] |2?J @7 E9@D6 A6@A=6 36=@?8 E@ E96 D6CG:46 4=F3D E92E @A6C2E6 H:E9:? @FC @H? =@42= 4@>>F?:E:6D — E96 ~AE:>:DE r=F3D[ E96 {:@?D[ z:H2?:D[ y2J466D 2?5 #@E2CJ[ E@ ?2>6 2 76H] $FAA@CE E96> — 2?J @7 E96> @C 2== @7 E96> — 2?5 >2<6 E96 H@C=5 2 36EE6C A=246]k^Am
kAmw@A67F==J H:E9:? E96 ?6IE EH@ J62CD[ J@F 42? 36 A2CE @7 2? 6A:4 @442D:@? :? 9F>2? 9:DE@CJ[ 2D J@F ;@:? H:E9 #@E2C:2?D :? C64@8?:K:?8 2?5 4@>>6>@C2E:?8 E96 G6CJ =2DE 42D6 @7 9F>2? A@=:@ :?764E:@? :? E96 H@C=5]k^Am
kAm%92E H:== 36 2 8@@5 52J]k^Am
kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i C:89EjQmk^Am
kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i C:89EjQmk6>m|2C< !62C46[ @7 (2CC6?D3FC8[ :D 8@G6C?@C @7 #@E2CJ s:DEC:4E e_g_]k^6>mk^Am
