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Rotary International and the PolioPlus Program to Eradicate Polio Worldwide - Raw Video Footage

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13-Jan-2011

Since 1985, eradicating polio worldwide has been Rotary's top philanthropic goal. Rotary has contributed more than US$900 million and countless volunteer hours to protect more than two billion children in 122 countries. In addition to India and Nigeria, the disease remains endemic -- meaning spread of the wild poliovirus has never been interrupted -- to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Until endemic polio transmission is stopped, other countries remain at risk for imported cases. For example, Tajikistan is suffering a serious polio outbreak traced back to India. In response to a $355 million challenge grant awarded to Rotary by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary clubs worldwide are aiming to raise a total of $200 million by 2012. The organization has already raised more than $141 million toward that goal. The funding will provide critical support to polio eradication activities. As outlined in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative's 2010 strategic plan, this includes a new, more effective bivalent polio vaccine and a more targeted approach in each country. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is spearheaded by the World Health Organization, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). It includes the support of governments and private sector donors. Raw video footage available.