One of the globally recognized and admired initiatives of Rotary International has been the launch of the Polio eradication campaign for eliminating Polio from the world. It is through this programme, Rotarians have demonstrated 'Yes, We Can!' And working towards making of Polio-free world. In India, Rotary initiated the Polio immunization campaign in 1994 to supplement the routine immunization effort through National Immunization Days. Since then, Rotary Clubs all over India have been working to support Rotary International for funding and advocacy while Government of India & State Governments  role is surveillance, operation & monitoring. Rotary has partnered with UNICEF [Vaccine procurement, Communication & monitoring], World Health Organization [surveillance, operation & monitoring]  and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [Funding and surveillance] All this to eradicate Polio. With the  numerous efforts by Rotarians and Partners, today more than 50 Lakh children have been saved from falling prey to the crippling Polio virus - but this is not enough. Every year, more than a million children are born in the country and unfortunately all are at risk. This is because even a lone Polio virus can affect any child, anywhere in the world, and is enough to start an epidemic. Rotary has been successful in changing the life of more than Fifty Lakh children in India. So far, Rotary has invested more than 855 million US Dollars in the Polio endemic countries.

I could gather this vital info by attending and following the presentations of Chief Guest, District Administration, speakers and Rotarians during an all day Rotary District Polio Plus Orientation Meet (Workshop) 'Final Fight'  which was hosted by Rotary Club of Bhagyanagar on Sunday the 10th October, 2010 at Hotel Sitara Regency, Hyderabad, India. 

The day long proceedings started with the presentations by our Past District Governor Rtn.Sam, Member-National Polio Plus Committee and the Chief Guest Rtn.Deepak Kapur, Chairman, Rotary International's India National Polio Plus Society [ http://www.rotarypolioplusindia.org ] who mentioned that we are in the last lap of the fight and it is not over till it is over. As long as polio threatens even one child anywhere in the world, children everywhere remain at risk.

It was informed to the participants that the Bill Gates challenge is a major boost to the eradication campaign. Gates Foundation joined hands with Rotary International and through Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, contributed a sum of US$ 355 Million and asked Rotary International to raise further sum of US$ 200 Million on its own.Rotarians world over have raised about $141.2 million. The resulting $555 million will directly support immunization campaigns in developing countries, where polio continues to infect and paralyze children, robbing them of their futures and compounding the hardships faced by their families. Our Rotary District 3150 has already collected Rs 94 Lakhs to supplement the Rotary efforts to meet the Bill Gates Challenge.

One could really get motivated with the subsequent panel discussions moderated by Rtn. Dr. Ravi Vadlamani, Chairman-District Polio Plus Committee on sharing experiences of Rotarians  and stratagies applied by the Rotary clubs. What impressed most was Rtn.Uma Rani Vellore- Polio Revenue District District co-ordinator's tips with a display of End Polio campaign material to increase the social mobilization.

Since  Rotary role is primarily to focus on funding, facilitation and  creating awareness, let us support our Rotary District  "End Polio Now" drive named as 'Nenu Saitham (or) We shall overcome'  to raise funds for the final push for polio eradication, create awareness for the polio campaign involving youth and children and collect funds.