Rotarians dream big! We also have the stamina to make those big dreams come through. One of the dreaded diseases of all time is almost gone. Polio affected millions annually with one in ten becoming paralyzed, either partially or completely which caused them to be reliant on the iron lung for their existence. Dr. Salk developed the Polio Vaccine in the 1950’s followed by an oral serum years later. As a result, polio in the USA was completely eradicated. Before, there was a Polio vaccine, people were concerned about contracting Polio. This water-borne virus kept people from enjoying swimming and water sports. Mostly children contracted this disease which has no cure, even with today’s modern technology. Polio is indiscriminate, even affecting President Franklin Roosevelt.
In today’s world, the USA and other modern countries have sophisticated wastewater systems compared to third world countries where raw sewerage is dumped in the street. Modern countries have easy access to the Polio serum. Third world countries have almost no access to the Polio serum except for the millions of Rotarians and other volunteers who make ongoing efforts to get the Polio serum to all, especially the infants and children in those third world countries. The Polio virus is excreted from those infected with the virus into the wastewater and public waters which can affect those who might get an unexpected “swig” of the contaminated water into their mouth. That is a simple explanation of how Polio is spread.
Rotary International presented its goal to completely eradicate Polio in the entire world to the World Health Organization many years ago. At that time, hundreds of thousands of innocent people were infected with the Polio virus, mostly in third world countries. Rotary International was viewed by the World Health Organization with skepticism because it would take decades to achieve that. Rotary approached other entities to partner up with in this community effort to eradicate the worrisome disease of Polio. Besides, the governments of the world including the USA getting involved, private foundations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation partnered up by donating millions. Rotarians raise 50+ million dollars annually to help the cause.
Rotarian Terry Ziegler is the Region 36 Coordinator for the End Polio Now program. His region extends from Texas north to Canada. Terry visited the Rotary Club of Conroe last Tuesday with good news and bad news. This huge collaboration of governments, World Health Organization, Rotary International, the Gates Foundation, GAVI, and more have worked together over the years to eradicate Polio one country at a time. Polio is now found in only two countries, being Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Those two third world countries have many obstacles to overcome to provide the Polio oral serum to the infants and young children each year. Those countries have political strife with radical factions. Furthermore, Mr. Ziegler explained to the Conroe Rotarians, people from those countries did not trust foreigners even to the extent the Polio serum came from other countries. GAVI came to those countries to make the Polio serum using local citizens to avoid the mistrust. The bad news for Rotarians is that last year’s total Polio cases has more than doubled this year. Rotarians are in for the long haul with people like Terry Ziegler leading the way to inoculate tens of millions of children born each year. It is a matter of time when there will be no new cases of Polio. When that happens, the immunizations worldwide will continue for three more years to assure the virus has been eliminated. Rotarians are in this for the long haul!
The Rotary Club of Conroe meets on Tuesdays at noon at Honor Cafe in Conroe.
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