Speeches :
National PolioPlus Orientation & Planning Meet
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August 18-19, 2007 The Commitment of Rotarians |
Click here for Photographs on this occasion |
Mr Chairman & Friends,
I feel privileged to address this
distinguished gathering of Rotary leaders and Inner Wheel Chairmen and other
guests, in my capacity as Director, Rotary International. It is now a
well-established practice that soon after the new leadership in Rotary takes
charge on July 1 every year, India National PolioPlus Committee holds this
important conclave to take stock of the prevailing Polio situation in the
country, discuss and evolve new strategies to contain the Poliovirus and to
prepare Rotarians to face new challenges in our ongoing fight against the
disease. 
I have been closely involved in the Polio eradication efforts in India for over 10 years as a member of the India National PolioPlus Committee. Now, in, my new charge as Director, Rotary International, I have assumed increased responsibility of over-seeing the programme in the entire Indian sub-continent and to ensure that in the next two years Polio is finally buried in the pages of history.
In 1979, the year, Rotary first immunized children in the Philippines, Rotary’s vision of a world without Polio was extremely bold. A little over two decades ago, in 1985 to be precise, Rotary made a commitment to free the world from Polio, a deadly disease which crippled millions and millions of children the world over. At that time, it appeared to all of us an impossible goal.
It was Rotary which first went to the World Health Assembly with the idea that it was possible to eradicate Polio from the world. This was one of the most phenomenal humanitarian health endeavours ever undertaken by Rotary
It was soon followed by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative with the partnership of WHO, UNICEF & CDC, all working together to support the governments to eradicate Polio from the world and, at the same time, strengthen the overall health infrastructure.
Rotary has provided the vision and the sheer human power in the form of its millions of volunteers and its advocates. Rotarians worked in the booths vaccinating children, the Rotarians went house to house, even in the most difficult conditions, Rotarians organized large rallies to motivate parents and communities. Rotarians spoke up on Polio eradication in every media outlet. Rotarians convinced many mother and fathers to protect their children through vaccination.
As of today, we can say with a sense of satisfaction that this unique partnership has made significant progress towards both these goals. Poliovirus has also disappeared from more than 120 countries and the number of cases each year has also dropped to fewer than 2000 from the staggering figure of 350,000.
Polio has gone from the Americas and the Western Pacific region and all its
traces stand wiped off from Europe. There has been a drastic decline in the
number of cases everywhere ever since a concentrated international campaign to
eradicate the disease began. 
A billion children have been saved from facing a crippled future, parents have been spared the tragic sight of their grown-up children crawl and, above all, a voice has been given to children around the world, for their right to a healthy life free of Polio. Polio is now no longer the main cause of disability; it is rather a disease, which is on the threshold of total eradication.
Rotary is a major partner with the Govt. of India, State Govts., World Health Organization and UNICEF for the Polio Eradication Programme in India.
Rotary, on its own, has contributed in diverse ways to this health programme and made significant financial contributions forming an important part of this support.
Besides financial contribution, we have offered consistent support to the Central and State Governments and other Partner agencies through political, bureaucratic and religious leaders’ advocacy, social mobilization, publicity through media and manning of immunization booths on National Immunization days (NIDs) with volunteers and transportation facilities.
Inner Wheel, which of course is an integral part of Rotary has been a valuable partner and has given us tremendous support in this endeavour.
The unfortunate resurgence in 2002 and again in 2006, while we were almost reaching the goal of eradication, gave us a severe setback. It served as a warning and mirrored the reality of what and how much can be at
stake because of a few lapses here and there in our overall efforts to eliminate the disease.
In the face of these four-yearly outbreaks, all the partners in this global endeavour have bravely faced the challenges because they share an unshaken belief that a Polio free world is bound to be a reality.
Today, I am happy to say, the outbreak has been controlled and Polio eradication activities are back on track. It was exactly the kind of response necessary to halt the outbreak and tackle the final stages of eradication head on.
To overcome resistance to Polio immunization from minority sections of the population in U.P., particularly the western parts of the state, who are vulnerable to undesirable influences, myths and superstitions about the Oral Polio Vaccine, Rotary took a major initiative last year by convening a meeting of the most respected and highly influential leaders of the Muslim community, in New Delhi, with a record participation of over 100 Ulemas, Maulvis and Imams of Uttar Pradesh and nearby Uttrakhand. All the participants offered to go to their community members to explain the importance of Polio immunization.
When we brought them face to face with the media, there was a free and frank exchange of views. The significant outcome of this meeting was the constitution of the Muslim Ulema Committee in U.P. by Rotary. I am honoured to be its first Chairman. This Committee meets regularly to keep track of the Polio situation.
The Uttar Pradesh Government and other social organizations have also been seeking their intervention for the ongoing eradication efforts. Their commitment and association with the programme has made a discernible impact and resulted in improved immunization coverage.
Rotary also took a major initiative helping Polio afflicted children by undertaking corrective surgeries and rehabilitation through specialized camps in U.P., Bihar and some other States.
As on today, we are facing our last and, perhaps, the sternest test. 99% of the job is already done. Just 4 countries are now Polio endemic. Unfortunately, India is one of them. But only two Indian States are Polio endemic – U.P. and Bihar.
And so far you, my dear Leaders of Rotary and Inner Wheel in India, this is the year of destiny and you are the men and women who will make that destiny. For if India to have zero Polio status, by December 2008, what you do to get done in your year will be critical.
All of us have to act in concert at the State, national and international levels. The media, health workers, administrators, local community leaders, voluntary and professional organizations, religious leaders and the public at large have to be consistently motivated and encouraged to participate actively in the eradication programme. The seriousness of the Govt. of India to combat the challenge of Polio was evidenced by the announcement by the Union Finance Minister in his 2007.
Budget Speech in Parliament of a major allocation of Rs.1,290 crore for Polio eradication.
As Rotarians and as human beings, we must work hard to close the disparity between the vulnerable and the protected, between the privileged and the unprivileged. We need to ensure protection against Polio for each and every child, and the only way we can do it, is by eradicating it completely.
Remember, one single Polio case anywhere, is a risk to every child everywhere. As, we have been emphasizing from time to time, Rotary’s projections and priorities in so far as the Polio eradication programme in India is concerned, are clearly defined.
Undeterred by periodical setbacks, our commitments of bigger volunteer support, intensive social mobilization and advocacy at various levels, particularly in western Uttar Pradesh, to supplement the decisions, efforts and initiatives of the government of India, State governments and other partners, remain undiluted and undiminished. I take this opportunity of reiterating these commitments.
Our success in wiping out the scourge of Polio will lead to global well being, harmony and peace because the colossal amount of money that is spent on Polio eradication today, can be diverted to programmes aimed at removal of poverty, disease, illiteracy and other ills that plague a sizeable part of the world community. With your energy, support and un-paralled dedication, I know, we will make this a reality
Thank you
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