The eradication of polio continues to be the RI Board of Directors’ top priority in its new strategic plan, which establishes RI’s mission, vision, core values, and priorities for 2007-10.

As a result, the Board is calling on Rotarians and clubs to support the plans and goals of the International PolioPlus Committee and to continue to focus on polio eradication.

IPPC Chair Robert S. Scott says Rotarians can help in three ways: “No. 1, Rotarians have got to have [polio eradication] as a club and district program. No. 2, they have to meet the Gates [Foundation] challenge. No. 3, they have to advocate to all those who are influential for funding.”

The challenge Scott is referring to is a US$100 million challenge grant for polio eradication from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which Rotary will match dollar-for-dollar over three years.

To measure progress in wiping out polio, the Board will be tracking the following milestones documented in “The Case for Completing Polio Eradication,” released by the World Health Organization in May: By the end of 2008, polio transmission should be interrupted, or there should be at least a 50 percent reduction in the number of polio-infected districts relative to 2007. Also by the end of 2008, the level of polio immunity among children ages 6 months to 35 months in infected districts should be at least as high as in polio-free districts, for at least 12 months. Furthermore, any country reinfected in 2007 should have implemented response activities and interrupted transmission of the imported poliovirus by the end of 2008.

Since 1985, Rotary has contributed more than $630 million to the polio eradication effort. Although the number of polio cases has fallen by 99 percent since then, the wild poliovirus still persists in four countries: Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Nigeria.