Special Projects: Polio Eradication... |
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SUPPORTING POLIO ERADICATION
As a Rotary Fellowship we are committed to the eradication of Polio. During the past three years, teams of people have visited India to gain firsthand knowledge about the complexity of the ‘last push’. A team of 34 volunteers were in Lucknow this February standing alongside the Rotarians there to reinforce our commitment to a Polio free world.
We will almost certainly lead another team next year. If you are interested please let me know.
Some facts about Polio and the purpose of our visit
You probably all know the stark facts - our involvement with polio eradication is almost complete. Now only four countries have cases of Polio. We have almost achieved the dream of a polio free world. In those four countries the W.H.O recommends that EVERY CHILD UNDER 5 MUST BE VACCINATED AT LEAST EIGHT TIMES A YEAR until there are three consecutive Polio free years.
It is a huge logistic challenge, not only for Rotary but for the FOUR National Governments and our partner organisations.
The Government of India, in 1988 committed the nation to the goal of global Polio eradication. Since 1995, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has been conducting intensive immunization and surveillance activities.
An army of motivated health workers and volunteers undertake the mammoth task of immunising every child under five on a regular basis. Our role is to demonstrate solidarity with them - not in providing ‘man power’ to actually immunise the children. We may also be able to help raise the profile of the campaign and most important of all to listen and learn.
Immunity against Polio virus
So, that all children may gain immunity against Polio virus, the Government of India, implements a robust immunisation policy. Every child under one receives at least 3 doses of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) at 6, 10 and 14 weeks. National Immunization Days (NIDs): Conduct Pulse Polio Immunization (PPI) programme by providing additional OPV doses to every child aged under 5 years at intervals of 4-6 weeks. The aim of NIDs/PPI is to “flood” the community with OPV within a very short period of time, thereby interrupting transmission of virus from child to child.
The number of PPI rounds conducted during any particular year is determined by the extent of Polio virus transmission. In recent years, several rounds have been conducted throughout the year – especially in the northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which have carried a heavier burden of Polio virus – in an attempt to break the last chains of transmission. Intensification of PPI requires meticulous programme planning, intensive supervision and monitoring and extensive social mobilization.
Rotarians in India are totally committed to the eradication of Polio and by joining them we express our solidarity and support to them. We also congratulate all the professionals and health workers involved in this major health campaign.
Polio in Lucknow