Rotary eradicate polio

A major partner in the eradication of smallpox from the world was ROTARY INTERNATIONAL. Now Polio is almost wiped out too!!

Rotary International President Richard D. King inaugurated Rotary's first
PolioPlus Summit on 22-24 February in Mumbai, India.  Attended by some 1,000
Rotarians, government officials, and world health leaders, the meeting
focused on efforts to eradicate polio in South Asia.

As one of the last remaining polio-endemic areas of the world, South Asia -
especially India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan - is a main concern of Rotary's
polio eradication partners.  In 2001, India reported 262 cases of polio,
Pakistan 114, and Afghanistan 11 cases.  Combined, these countries contained
nearly 70 percent of the world's polio cases last year.

"One would wonder why so many from other areas of the world are attending a
conference on eradicating polio in South Asia," said President King.  "But I
learned after September 11 that no one is immune from the problems of others
and I have a new interest in community activity to help solve problems."

Coming from countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Ghana, Canada, USA,
Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Japan, Argentina, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, and host nation India, the summit attendees also participated in
a Sub-National Immunization Day (SNID).

For the grand opening of the SNID, President King lit a flame to signify
Rotary's unwavering commitment to polio eradication, and along with first
lady Cherie King, immunized a child against polio.  In addition, the RI
president, together with Rotary Foundation Chairman Luis Vicente Giay,
International PolioPlus Committee Chairman William T. Sergeant, and
Foundation Trustee Kalyan Banerjee, unveiled a 100-kilometer (0.62-mile)
long polio-eradication banner.

Featured speaker Dr. Bruce Aylward, coordinator for the Global Polio
Eradication Initiative for WHO, spoke on the global status and remaining
challenges to eradicating polio in South Asia and worldwide.  "Just two
years ago, polio was endemic throughout most of India. Thanks to the
extraordinary efforts of the Government of India and its partners, there are
just two remaining endemic states.  With continued effort, it will soon be
zero," he said.  "Rotary International has played a huge role in this
success, through its commitment to immunize every child against polio."

The summit participants also celebrated Rotary's 97th birthday.  "As much as
we have done for the children of the world with PolioPlus, we have also
enhanced Rotary," said President King.  "I cannot think of a better way to
celebrate our 97th anniversary than by focusing our efforts on eradicating
this crippling disease."