Rotary Thanks Members of Congress for Helping with the Eradication of
Polio
by Anai Rhoads Ford
12 May 2006
AnaiRhoads.org --
This week, Rotary International recognised members of Congress for helping
in the global fight to eradicate polio.
The Polio Eradication Champion Award was given to first-time
recipients Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Sen. Elizabeth Dole
(R-NC), Sen. Barak Obama (D-IL), Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), Rep. Kay
Granger (R-TX) and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) Wednesday.
The organisation began its efforts two decades ago. During the 1980s,
there were an estimated 1,000 new cases of polio every day. By the
end of 2005, less than 2,000 children were recorded to have
contracted polio for that year. This number showed a significant
decrease from the 350,000 cases estimated in 125 countries back in
1988.
Other regions declared free of polio include:
- 1994: The Americas
- 2000: Western Pacific region
- 2002: Europe
"No child today should have to suffer the devastating consequences of
polio, as an effective vaccine has made this disease preventable. US
leadership is crucial to ensuring that every child is protected."
says James Lacy, past President of Rotary International.
The epidemic reached its peak in the U.S in 1952, with more than 21,000 paralytic cases. It was not until the succession of the polio vaccine did America see a significant decline.[1]
Polio, caused by an intestinal virus, is a highly infectious disease
that attacks the nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain.
There are three types of polio which include spinal, bulbar, and bulbospinal. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the death-to-case ratio for paralytic polio is 2 to 5 percent among children, and up to 15 to 30 percent for adults. The percentages increase from 25 to 75 percent in cases where bulbar is a factor.
Polio can
cause paralysis and sometimes even death. The symptoms include
vomiting, a sore throat, headache and fever.
According to
the Pink Book published by the CDC, fewer than 1 percent of all polio cases result in flaccid paralysis. Many with paralytic poliomyelitis recover completely, however those with weakness or paralyses for a year or more continue to have it.[1]
The disease affects children under the age of 5 more than any other age
group. According to Rotary, Africa and Southeast Asia
are most hit by polio.
Since the 80s, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has received
$1.2 billion from the United States. To date, Rotary has contributed
nearly $650 million to the cause. Over a million Rotary members
have volunteered their time and even their personal resources to help immunise
more than two billion children in 122 countries.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is spearheaded by the World
Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, U.S. Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and the United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Other support to the campaign comes from March of Dimes Birth Defects
Foundation, the Task Force for Child Survival and Development, the
U.S. Fund for UNICEF, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the
United Nations Foundation.
As there is no cure for polio, the best protection is prevention. For
as little as .60 cents worth of vaccine, a child can be protected
against this crippling disease for life. It should be noted,
however, that several European countries refused to vaccinate their
residents, and the polio declined in those areas anyway.[2]
Due to civil unrest, regional instabilities, high-density
populations, and monetary gaps, the challenge to immunise is still a problem. However, once eradicated, polio will be the second disease
after smallpox ever to be eliminated worldwide.
Previous recipients of Rotary's Polio Eradication Champion Award were
also honoured for their continued support toward polio eradication.
They include: Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS), Sen. Richard J. Durbin
(D-IL), Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI), Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN), Sen.
Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), Sen. Patrick J.
Leahy (R-VT), Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA),
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-TX), Rep. Donna M.
Christensen (D-VI), Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey (D-NY), Rep. Jesse
Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Rep. William L. Jenkins (R-TN), Rep. Mark Steven
Kirk (R-IL), Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), Rep.
Michael McNulty (D-NY), Rep. Dave Obey (D-WI), Rep. Donald M. Payne
(D-NJ), Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. John Peterson (R-PA), Rep.
Ralph Regula (R-OH), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Roger F. Wicker
(R-MS) Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-FL).
©2006 Anai Rhoads Ford. Reproduction must be authorised in writing
by author only. Altering, redistributing, or selling this material is
strictly prohibited.
References:
[1] Centers for Disease Control (CDC): Pink Book
[2] Alderson M. International Mortality Statistics. Washington D.C."
Facts on File, 1981:177-8.
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