The Success Story of Polio Eradication & Beyond
Rotary International took a giant step in the field of global humanitarian service, when it took the decision to eradicate polio from the face of earth. Our partners in this crusade, namely WHO, UNICEF, CDC joined us soon to envisage the second health sector revolution, after the eradication of small pox.
We have come a long way since the times when 3.5 lac children were known to be afflicted by polio – a lot many were perhaps not even reported – to a figure of only 37 cases in 2016 and in only three countries in the world.
We are on the threshold of creating a history but the path until now, was full of excitement, frustrations, new learning, enormous experience, incredible hope & extraordinary commitment by staff of Govt. of India, WHO, UNICEF & Rotarians.
Rotary’s main and first task was to raise adequate funds for this ambitious goal. Rotarians from all over the world have always surpassed the target of fund collection. Till today, we have disbursed $ 1.6 billion for polio.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have contributed handsomely and are continuing to do so for Rotary’s polio eradication program. Gates Foundation is convinced about the transparency, optimal utilization, an excellent management of funds by Rotary and also of Rotary’s reach in almost all the countries in the world and within the countries, to the far reaching communities through its club.
Rotarians have played an important role in raising funds for WHO, UNICEF & CDC by various Govt’s . like USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Korea. All these countries are free from polio for decades, yet continue to commit funds for polio eradication for our part of the world .
Govt. of India has also taken exemplary steps in this direction. Each year, Govt. is earmarking almost Rs. 1200 crores exclusively for polio immunization. It may be noted that most of the funds disbursed by RI go directly to WHO & UNICEF headquarters for various aspects of polio related work.That includes surveillance, virus detection laboratories, social mobilization, vaccine procurement etc. Relatively only a small part of funds is given to Rotary’s India National Polio Plus Committee. To this date Rotary International has committed over Rs. 1200 crore to India for polio eradication.
India also has not lagged behind in fund generation. We have Smt. Rajashree Birla who has not only given over $ 9 million but has taken a leading role in the actual immunization. Rtn. Harshad Mehta, Mittals have also contributed handsomely.
Rotary India played a pivotal role in making India polio free. We played a major role in convincing Govt. of India to take up this challenge.
India National Polio Plus Committee and all the RI general officers of India, have been fully engaged with this program.
INPPC has given IEC material such as banners, aprons, caps, posters, comic books, whistles, plastic balls to all the clubs since 1995.
Special needs such as marker pens, ice boxes, umbrellas, cell phones, boats have also been provided wherever needed.
INPPC undertook polio corrective surgery projects in UP & Bihar. Over 4500 surgeries were performed on the polio victims. This lead to enhanced faith of community on our humanitarian work.
In UP, where there was a significant resistance to vaccination, Ulemma committee was formed in 2006 . After much efforts and sensitive handling, all the ulemmas in UP supported our mission. Prominent Muslim board members gave vaccine to their own children in front of TV cameras. That lead to widespread acceptance of the vaccination.
Malegaon in Maharashtra posed a similar problem. Over 3500 families resisted vaccination. Thus nearly 15000 children remained unimmunized. Sure enough, in 2008-2009, three cases of polio reported there. Here the situation was worst than that of Western U P . Here apart from the people there was tremendous resistance from the medical fraternity as well as from the local Urdu Media . Once again, due to the tremendous efforts of local Rotarians , NCM & myself along with WHO staff, we could bring the resistance down to less than 600 families.
We formed Ulemma committee in Malegaon also. Initially they were reluctant and it was uphill task to take them on board . Many visits were made in Malegaon and to tell you the truth many a times meetings with Ulemas were organised in Muslim Crematorium and we used to sit on the floor to discuss the issue or to say to convince them why their children needed Polio Drops. But once convinced of the program, they made sure that announcements were made about the need of vaccination from almost all the mosques in Malegaon.
INPPC has been organizing Polio Orientation meets at the National Level, District Level and also at the revenue district level. It has also played a major role in Advocacy.
We remained engaged with highest political & bureaucratic leadership. We took the support of film stars, sportsmen & prominent citizens. We also played a major role in media advocacy.
I must at this state, humbly acknowledge the work done by our partners. Govt. of India & all the State Govts who played a stellar role in this mission. Over 25 lac health staff, worked tirelessly in over 7 lac booths in all on NIDs & SNIDs.
I have seen them working in sun, rain, on hills & in remote areas in marshy lands and in challenging areas of interiors of UP & Bihar. Over 2 crore houses are visited after every NID to make sure that every child is vaccinated.
Surveillance Medical Officers of WHO did superb micro planning , established, what is now accepted as the world’s best surveillance network and monitored every aspect of the program. WHO polio headquarters in India always guided us & helped us in every stage. UNICEF also established a highly efficient social mobilization network.
Friends, how can I not express my feelings towards all the Rotarians of India. Rotarians took up this program passionately & dedicated themselves entirely to our first & only corporate global initiative. You all, gave so many voluntary hours of service that it’s impossible to even quantify it. All I can say, is that the value of your services is absolutely priceless.
Friends, We still have a few years of work ahead of us. This requires enormous funds. We must continue to raise funds for polio. For years together, the Rotarians of the polio free world are contributing to support our program of polio. Now that we are polio free, we must ensure that the countries that still need to work hard to eradicate polio, have adequate funds. Let us all pledge to support the polio mission financially, as long as it takes, to see back of the polio virus.
Yes ! we are on a threshold of creating a history but the last lap of marathon is always the most difficult. We are very near to our dream of polio free world but there is a gap between cup & lip.
India is polio free for the last 6 yrs but as long as the polio virus hovers in our neighbouring countries, we are not safe. For years together, in the past, India exported polio virus to almost all the continents of the world and now it can come back the same way hence we must remain vigilant.
We have to promote Routine Immunization as still there are some pockets where children have not received even a single dose of polio , they are always vulnerable . And always remember POLIO ANY WHERE IS POLIO EVERY WHERE .
There is no room for program fatigue or complacency. We need to have the same level of commitment and passion, as we were having for the last 30 yrs.
Friends, the virus is on the back foot but we need to break the back of it forever. We will create a history when polio virus is destroyed from the face of earth but if we do not run with vigour, zeal and total dedication to complete the marathon, history will not spare us. The choice is entirely ours. I am however confident that, as you have so often done in the past, you will always do better than the best to make the world polio free.
26 February 2017