PEOPLE POWER - WORLD'S LAST CASES OF POLIO?

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Local Rotary Members Strive to End Global Scourge

By Miriam Raftery
October 1, 2008 (San Diego’s East County) -- Polio,
once the most dreaded childhood disease which killed or paralyzed millions
of people, may soon be eradicated worldwide – and members of local Rotary
chapters are eagerly pitching in to rid the globe of this silent killer.

Since the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a global vaccination drive
to end polio 20 years ago along with Rotary International, UNICEF and the U.S.
Center for Disease Control,  polio cases worldwide have fallen by 99%. 

Last
year, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (established by Microsoft’s
founder) gave $100 million to Rotary International, which pledged to match
the amount and end polio worldwide.  In 2007, over 400 million children
received immunizations. This year,  only a few hundred polio cases have
occurred worldwide in just four countries (northern Nigeria, Northern Indian,
and the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region).

On a recent visit to La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club, District Governor Pam Russell
spied a basket of juicy peaches on the check-in table.  Learning that
a member had brought them in from her over-abundant tree as a gift for fellow
Rotarians, Russell promptly dubbed them “Peaches for Polio” and
asked members to pay 25 cents each. 

The basket was soon empty and La Mesa Sunrise was $15.00 closer to its share
of the $100 million needed for the Polio Plus Grant Matching Funds.  The
next week, members raided their orchards and vegetable gardens: “Produce
for Polio Plus” was born, adding $56 more to the fund. “We’ll
see how we do when all we have are beets and broccoli,” quipped Club
President Dave Roberts, “but this is a great way to reduce our carbon
footprint by eating fresh, locally-grown produce--and raise funds for Polio
Plus at the same time.”

Addie Hankins, 2009 president of the El Cajon Breakfast Rotary Club (photo
at right), has pledged to make supporting efforts to eradicate polio a high
priority. She aims to double the club’s membership and involve members
with youths in our community through a “Save the Kids—Save the
World” campaign. “This makes dreams real for children,” Hankins
concluded.

To help with donations or to find a local Rotary chapter, visit www.rotary.org.

Miriam Raftery, editor of East County Magazine,  is a 25-year
journalst who has won national and local awards for her investigative
reporting and community journalism.  If you are interested in syndicating
or reprinting this column, please contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.


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