The quest for Polio eradication must continue …

Article by PDG Bob Aitken, RI Rotary End Polio Now Coordinator

AFGHANISTAN – the quest for Polio eradication must continue …

How can we ever achieve complete Polio eradication in the wake of the collapse of democracy in Afghanistan?

Is Rotary’s historic and most significant humanitarian project staggering to a halt with little or no chance of accessing millions of children in that war torn country?

These are just some of the questions on the lips of Rotarians around the world at this time …

Our members are also grappling with the realisation that Rotary has long been working with a culture of people that do not have the same beliefs and standard of behaviour that exists in most western nations.

Such questions pose a real dilemma for Rotarians who really put service above self and have a desire to share a quality of life with all the people of our world.

The answer for everyone is that we must not lose focus on Rotary’s promise to the children of the world!

Rotary has pledged to eradicate Poliomyelitis and has already contributed US$2.2 billion and countless volunteer hours to the cause. Today, 19.4 million people around the world who otherwise would have been paralysed are walking due these efforts and those of our partners.

Since 1985, Rotary has focused on polio eradication as its priority program and, as such, has worked with many nations and groups which do not share ideology as practised in the west.

Our campaign has been overwhelmingly successful and we stand on the brink of total success with only TWO cases of the wild polio virus reported in the last eight months - one each in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

If our Rotary teams do not complete the challenge in these two countries, there is a danger the virus can escape to areas of low vaccination levels and gain strength again.

Carol Pandak, Rotary International’s Director of PolioPlus, reported last week that The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is closely monitoring developments in Afghanistan.

She said GPEI partners and staff are currently assessing immediate disruptions to polio eradication efforts and the delivery of other essential health services to ensure continuity of surveillance and immunisation activities while prioritising the safety and security of staff and frontline workers in the country.

‘The Polio program in Afghanistan has operated for many years amid insecurity and conflict, and we will continue working with all actors, agencies and organisations who enable delivery of immunisation as well as humanitarian assistance to populations in need across the country. The GPEI remains steadfastly committed to protecting all children from polio and supporting the provision of other essential immunisations and health services,’ she continued.

Carol Pandak said we strongly believe that the delivery of health care – including polio vaccinations – is essential to prevent diseases and safeguard communities.

‘Together with our partners, the people of Afghanistan, national and provincial authorities, we will do everything in our power to continue this critical work’, she concluded.

It is important to understand that Rotary International is not in this campaign alone. We stand firmly with the World Health Organisation, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of a united team.

Rotary and these partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative have built a vast infrastructure – including 145 laboratories with technicians and surveillance teams – that has contributed much to other health emergencies such as Ebola in Nigeria and most recently the COVID-19 pandemic.

The final message is that there is no room for Rotary International and its partners to be selective in caring for the children of the world.