Polio’s Last Stand

I understand that the attenuated live virus used in the polio vaccine can mutate to form a deadly polio virus as we are finding in Third World countries such as India. In the Developed world with better sanitation facilities, it does not seem to be a problem.

Jim Kawakami
Eugene, Oregon

info test.

One of Bill Gates' dicta is "It is better to waste money than time" Sadly time is the commodity that cannot be bought. The world's heath workers have a finite amount of time each day to spend on their work. It that time is taken by polio eradication then it is not avaliable for all their other responsibilities. The time demand of polio eradication is its achilles heal. It is certainly the case in Northern Nigeria, where the frequency of immunization days is so great that almost no time is avaliable for other work. It is also true that one of the Governors in the North commented a couple of years ago, Why would we want to eradicate polio people make too much money from it.

There is a limit to how much time can continue to be spent trying to eradicate polio. There is little point in saving a child from polio only to see it die from another preventable disease.Soon the decision will have to be taken to move to a sustainable strategy which offers the best chance for improving the child's overall well being and chance of reaching adulthood. That is the debate that needs to begin. How much other suffering could be aleiviated by investing $600 million a year?

poverty = poliomyelitis =paralysis=persistent mal practice =poorly developed states

Rotary International has spent years and untold numbers of volunteer hours working to eliminate the polio virus, which is still a dreadful crippler and killer. RI should always be given credit for this effort. I am paraplegic as a result of polio at age 4. I've lived what I think of as an almost enchanted life, but I would never want to see another person infected with this disease. Especially in Third World countries, a "normal" life is very diffcult to say nothing of enchanted!
The fight to end polio must continue. We can ever stop inoculating. I do not believe the polio virus can ever be completely conquered for just the reasons stated in the article. We have to accept reality but continue to protect as many as possible. However, we cannot eradicate this virus. Eileen C. Boyle USA

As a survivor of the most deadly and crippling type of polio, I say we must continue the effort to eradicate this disease. I pray we do it in my lifetime.

Rotary International has spent years and untold numbers of volunteer hours working to eliminate the polio virus, which is still a dreadful crippler and killer. RI should always be given credit for this effort. I am paraplegic as a result of polio at age 4. I've lived what I think of as an almost enchanted life, but I would never want to see another person infected with this disease. Especially in Third World countries, a "normal" life is very diffcult to say nothing of enchanted!
The fight to end polio must continue. We can ever stop inoculating. I do not believe the polio virus can ever be completely conquered for just the reasons stated in the article. We have to accept reality but continue to protect as many as possible. However, we cannot eradicate this virus. Eileen C. Boyle USA

World Health Organization WHO, are sincere for the eradication of POLIO from the World, and in this regard many international organization have contributed according to there status, Bill gates name is included amongst them. As I am residing in Pakistan I will share few lines through your esteemed Magazine.
Despite the repeated POLIO ROUNDS through out the Countries ,the Polio cases are emerging in the countries . When I asked a Health official who is taking part in these activities since last 04 years, that why POLIO is still not eradicating from the country? He replied that : There is no sincerity ,honesty and spirit in the health workers, and the officers sitting on higher position are corrupt, they are deliberately doing such tactics so that more funds (money) come and they will misuse it in the name of POLIO ERADICATION PROGRAM.
He further told me that most of the families are angry upon health workers because the people are tired as the workers are regularly, nearly every month came to there home and asked for vaccination. He also told me that the vaccine is substandard and not kept on desired temperature and place ! INAYAT RASOOL.

I just wanted to use this opportunity to thank publicly Dr. Carlos Canseco, a mexican immunologist who spearheaded the Rotary Club's efforts to erradicate polio. He just passed away a week or two ago, but the world never thanked him enough for his efforts. Thanks to him, polio is a distant memory for most of us under 50 or 60 years of age. We didn't grow up maimed or paralyzed because of a disease that was widespread the world over before him. It may not be erradicated, but ask yourself how many people do you know who suffered it.
Honor be placed to those to whom it is due

a very good article that accurately points out the real problems. Congratulations!

Cheers to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for raising their contribution to the Rotary Foundation to 355 m for the eradication of polio. Aside from the generous Gates donation, Rotary has raised or committed over $900 million to eliminating this scourge. It is no wonder that the Wall Street Journal editorialized that Rotary should be presented the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts in this area. Thank you as well to the governments who have worked with Rotary, the WHO, UNICEF and the CDC.

The effort to eradicate Polio has been led by Rotary International. The problem area exist because of local politics and ignorance. Finding ways to circumvent the ignorance and stabalize the local politics in the areas where polio exists will allow for the eradication of the disease as it has in areas where these kinds of problems do not exist, such as the enitre Western Hemisphere. It amazes me that you write such and article without acknowledging the organization who has led this effore ahd which has people in nearly every country of the world, namely Rotary International. Bill gates has donated money to Rotary International, to be matched by that organization to finish the job and eradicate the disease. Go to the website, Rotary.org and click on PolioPlus to bring yourself up to date on the facts of the eradication effort.

Thanks Bill Gates!!! Now everyone can help eradicate Polio by joining your local Rotary Club......Make a difference like Mr. Gates has. Find a Rotary Club in your area.. Need help finding a club go to www.Rotary.org. Go ahead make a difference in your community, your state, your country and your world.

As stated well by mgone, I believe the difference will be made not by money alone, but by the humanitarian efforts of organizations like Rotary International. The gap is now ignorance, rather than funding, as I and milliions of other Rotarians are dedicated to the erradication of polio. Through tireless diplomatic efforts and bridging the gap of fear and misinformation the world will one day be polio free.

They probably have a cure.....

What a sad little world you live in. To think that hard working men and women, many with families of their own, spanning not just the U.S. but the whole developed world are in on some conspiracy to keep kids suffering from polio (of all diseases, are you kidding me?!) so they can make money.

KTRIMBUR you have watched entirely too much TV. Why not try a book. Non-fiction!

It's the same thing with all diseases, they probably have a cure but they won't say anything because it would take money away from the drug companies. It's all about the drug companies getting their money.

As a Rotarian I am shocked that you did not mention our organization's effort to eradicate this disease. RI has provided vaccine and innoculated in excess of TWO BILLION childrenin the since 1988. Although the challlenges you cite are factual, it is a disservice To RI and the efforts of it's membership. to A brief history of PolioPlus

Since PolioPlus began in 1985, Rotary???s vast network of 1.2 million members has contributed money, volunteer time, and networking expertise to the polio eradication effort.

Rotary???s financial contributions to the global polio eradication effort will reach nearly US$650 million by the time the world is certified polio-free.
Rotary???s leadership, beginning in 1985, inspired the World Health Assembly to pass a resolution to eradicate polio, which paved the way for the formation of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988.
Thousands of Rotarians around the world have volunteered during National Immunization Days to immunize children.
The PolioPlus program helps Rotary fund operational costs, such as transportation, vaccine delivery, social mobilization, and training of health workers, and support surveillance activities. Read more about what happens before, during, and after a National Immunization Day (NID).
Rotarians work to encourage both donor and polio-affected governments to commit the political and financial resources needed to eradicate polio.

As a Rotarian I am shocked that you did not mention our organization's effort to eradicate this disease. RI has provided vaccine and innoculated in excess of TWO BILLION childrenin the since 1988. Although the challlenges you cite are factual, it is a disservice To RI and the efforts of it's membership. to A brief history of PolioPlus

Since PolioPlus began in 1985, Rotary???s vast network of 1.2 million members has contributed money, volunteer time, and networking expertise to the polio eradication effort.

Rotary???s financial contributions to the global polio eradication effort will reach nearly US$650 million by the time the world is certified polio-free.
Rotary???s leadership, beginning in 1985, inspired the World Health Assembly to pass a resolution to eradicate polio, which paved the way for the formation of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988.
Thousands of Rotarians around the world have volunteered during National Immunization Days to immunize children.
The PolioPlus program helps Rotary fund operational costs, such as transportation, vaccine delivery, social mobilization, and training of health workers, and support surveillance activities. Read more about what happens before, during, and after a National Immunization Day (NID).
Rotarians work to encourage both donor and polio-affected governments to commit the political and financial resources needed to eradicate polio.