Polio Eradication

Posted by William Duke

on Nov 13, 2011

Only once in the history of humanity have we managed to completely eradicate a disease; smallpox. Well fellow Rotarians, we're ready to do it again. Most of us want to make a difference, an impact on the world. And we have. We are the people who will make polio go away forever. Soon.

You might already know the last 4 endemic countries - Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and Nigeria (PAIN). But did you know that there has been only 1 case of polio in India this year; and that was back in January. That's not a typo, that's is ONE case, 10 months ago.

Once India goes, experts predict that Pakistan and Afghanistan will quickly follow. And that leaves Nigeria.

Last year in Nigeria a chieftain believed that the polio vaccine was really an attempt to sterilize the children and refused to let it be delivered. Not surprisingly there was an outbreak of polio in his region. This year he has realized his error and asked Rotarians to return and help his people.

Only one other time in the history of mankind has this kind of impact been made. Now we're going to be part of the second.