Foundation Moments

Posted by Carol Langley, Foundation Director

Polio Plus - Immunization Proceeds

$247 million in the coffers, Rotary could continue its global mass immunization plan. On a single day in 1990, 380,000 vaccinators operated 60,000 sites in South America. As a result, 5 million children were immunized on that day. However, there was little time to celebrate, as mammoth efforts in not only Africa, but Asia and Europe were being undertaken. In 2002, 500 million children were immunizes in 93 countries.

One of the greatest challenges to PolioPlus was not geographic, but political. Many polio-endemic regions were combat zones, and Rotary couldn’t enter. Rotary and its partners persisted and were able to demonstrate the value of immunizations to all sides in the conflicts. “Days of Tranquility” were established when combatants laid down their arms so Rotary could enter the country with vaccines. Often, the combatants even helped with mobilization.

As the work continued, it became apparent that the original funds were only a fraction of what would be needed to end the disease.