Celebrate World Polio Day 2014

Editor's Notes

1. Hello and welcome to today’s webinar, World Polio Day 2014, our fight to end polio. My name is Clare Monroe, and I will be moderating today’s session. During today’s session, Carol Pandak, Director of PolioPlus will review status of polio eradication in 2014, and let you know how you can commemorate World Polio Day on 24 October.
2. Carol: Thank you for joining us. We are very close to making history by defeating polio, but we must maintain our focus and resolve. I appreciate the opportunity to share with you the unique work of your fellow Rotarians in working to address the remaining challenges to achieving a polio free world. Despite the challenges, we have come a long way in polio eradication. In 1988, three types of poliovirus paralyzed children in over 125 countries. Today, only three countries have never stopped transmission of wild poliovirus – Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. And type 2 wild poliovirus paralyzed its last victim in 1999. Type 3 wild polio hasn’t been seen since November 2012. These past 12 months have been a period of major achievement, challenge and change. Today we will discuss what is currently being done, and what else Rotarians can do to help end polio and different ways you can commemorate world polio day
3. There is a lot to celebrate in the progress of polio eradication. In 1985 three types of poliovirus paralyzed children in over 125 countries, but we’ve greatly reduced those numbers. The first piece of good news is that the type 2 wild poliovirus paralyzed its last victim in India in 1999 and for the first time in history there has not been type 3 poliovirus anywhere in the world for over 18 months. This focuses our efforts on type 1 poliovirus.
4. The most exciting news is that India, once considered the country that could never stop the transmission of polio because of its dense population and poor sanitation succeeded in stopping polio and celebrated three years of no polio in January 2014. This paved the way for the entire Southeast Asia Region to be certified polio-free on 27 March 2014. With this accomplishment, 4 out of 6 regions are polio-free, which means that 80% of the world is polio-free. Certification happens when a region has detected no cases of polio for three consecutive years in the presence of high levels of disease surveillance.
5. Carol: What are the risks? The continued transmission of a terrible, crippling disease that strikes the most vulnerable in our population – children under the age of 5. If we fail in our efforts, we will lose a global investment that now totals more than US$10 billion – including over US$1.2 billion from Rotarians. We could see as many as 200,000 children crippled annually within a decade, and the reintroduction of polio into previously polio free countries.
6. This slide shows the dramatic differences in polio cases between 2012, 2013 and 2014. In 2012, nearly all of the 223 polio cases were in the 3 remaining endemic countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria. However, because of the ongoing transmission of wild poliovirus in these countries, in 2013 there were outbreaks of imported virus in the Horn of Africa, Cameroon and Syria that accounted for 60% of all polio cases. And while we are still battling outbreaks in 2014, the number of polio cases in the endemic and outbreak countries is significantly less than 2013.
7. Carol: What role is Rotary playing in helping to overcome these challenges? First: Gaining access to children…. Pakistan provides a good example. There are areas of Pakistan where local groups have imposed a ban on immunization activities. In one such area-Waziristan- Rotary has worked with the Pakistani Army to organize makeshift camps where children can receive polio drops.
8. Carol: On the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, Rotary has sponsored fixed immunization posts to help reach mobile populations. Children are immunized upon entry and exit, providing not only a surefire way to reach children whose families are moving between these two countries, but also a safe place for the vaccinators and the families.
9. Carol: Another way that Rotarians are helping to ensure progress, is by building community support, beyond just polio. In Pakistan, Rotarians have organized Health Camps, set up permanent immunization centers, opened Health Centers, and conducted garbage cleanup in high risk districts to build community trust and address community concerns. Rotarians in Nigeria are holding health camps and distributing “plusses” such as bed nets and soap during immunization campaigns. They are conducting rehabilitation surgeries and adopting low performing local communities to help improve polio campaign quality.
10. Carol: Now, let’s talk about the importance of raising awareness and funds. Raising awareness is a key element in raising the funds needed from governments and individuals.
11. Carol: Addressing these challenges comes at a cost, of course. The bar on the left represents the cost to fully fund the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan through 2018. The bar on the right shows progress toward securing the funds needed. $1.8 billion has been confirmed and there are sufficient funds pledged for 2014 – BUT – much depends on ensuring that pledged funds are fulfilled and in a timely manner. Rotary is working with governments to ensure that pledges are fulfilled and to secure the remaining $.6 billion needed for full funding.
12. Carol: If you have an opportunity to encourage political leaders and government officials to support polio eradication: Remind them that a polio-free world is Rotary’s top priority. It is a goal in which over US$11 billion globally have been invested so far. Ask for continued support. Say thank you – especially if action is taken. Inviting officials to visit your Rotary club is a good way to show them our commitment, the progress in polio eradication, and enlist their support of the cause.
13. Carol: All Rotarians are invited to participate in history by supporting our End Polio Now: Make History Today campaign. Every US$1 dollar that Rotary commits in direct support for polio immunization (up to US$35 million per year) will be matched by an additional US$2 dollars from the Gates Foundation through 2018. In other words, each year that Rotary contributes US$35 million to polio eradication efforts, the Gates Foundation will contribute US$70 million to PolioPlus. This means contributions to Rotary’s PolioPlus program will have three times the impact. Rotary’s fundraising, paired with continued advocacy to donor governments will help secure the financial resources necessary for the success of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan.
14. Carol: And the best way we’ve found to help raise awareness is to tell compelling stories.
15. Carol: Visit Endpolionow.org/stories to tell us yours. There are areas in which you can share your story: Personal Stories (polio survivors) Fund raising stories Stories from the field(if you have volunteered for the cause) Special Event or Project Stories
16. Clare: Thank you Carol We hope you all have marked World Polio Day, 24 October on your calendar. We know that Rotarians throughout the world are planning to commemorate the day in various ways. Rotary Club event in Basel, Switzerland on Oct 18; Atlanta, GA at the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Oct. 21 – CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden and RI President Gary Huang will be among the participants; Illumination in Strasbourg, France in Oct at the European Parliament; Karachi/Lahore, Pakistan, where monuments will be illuminated with the “End Polio Now” message;
17. Clare: For World Polio Day, Rotary will be hosting a livestream even in Chicago that will broadcast live online starting at 6:30 pm Chicago time. The livestream event will feature Minda Dentler, a polio survivor and the first woman to hand-cycle an iron man Dr. Tom Frieden, the head of US Centers for Disease Control Jeff Kluger, from Time magazine Tessann Chin, winner of season 5 of The Voice and “This Close” ambassasdor Mike McGovern, Vice-Chair of The Rotary Foundation Trustees Viewers in 15 countries (including Ukraine, Brazil and South Africa) tuned in for the live broadcast. The live and archived video of the event had more than 11,000 views in just five days.
18. Clare: To help with the promotion of world polio day, a tool kit can be found on endpolio.org The tool kit includes a description of the event Polio background information Information on how to celebrate the event from tuning into the livestream, Host a viewing party, share your voice, hold and event. Key Messages on polio Sample Tweets, Facebook posts, logos, cover photos for facebook and twitter, Also available on Endpolio.org/worldpolioday are sample press releases, advocacy guides and letters to the editors
19. Carol: As mentioned, there are plenty of online resources to help your efforts. Visit endpolionow.org for materials Polioeradication.org for the most recent program news such as the current polio case count and the global status of polio eradication. And to obtain materials for your upcoming world polio day events please visit shop.rotary.org or independent vendors worldwide. To make a donation, or to encourage others, please use the website endpolionow.org/donate
20. Carol: We would like to thank you all for joining us for today’s webinar. We hope that you found it informative.