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How can one help PolioPlus Ride 2003?
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PolioPlus Updates 2002 Sierra Leone SNIDs reach more than 1.3 million children Rotary International and partner organizations came a step closer to eradicating polio in West Africa after staging two rounds of Sub-National Immunization Days (SNIDs) in as many months in war-torn Sierra Leone. The rounds of immunizations, which targeted children under age 5, Totaled 1.3 million - a major milestone for PolioPlus in a country that has endured10 years of brutal civil war. The SNIDs penetrated newly accessible regions that have opened up following the end of hostilities between the Revolutionary United Front and Sierra Leone's government forces. At Least 658,000 children were targeted in the most recent round of immunizations, which took place 6-8 April in eight districts in Sierra Leone's northern and eastern regions, according to Alhassan Seisay, coordinator of the national Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) at the Ministry of Health. Although Sierra Leone is more accessible for immunization work, the Region still remains volatile. "Because of the problems in Liberia there were Lots of children coming in and so we expect more in the second round," Seisay told the UN's Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). The April SNIDs followed another successful round, held 2-4 March, that reached Some 647,931 children, almost 98 percent of the targeted population. Vitamin A, which helps prevent night blindness, measles, diarrhea, and chest infections, was also administered, Seisay said. Sierra Leone National PolioPlus Committee Chairman S.H.O.T. Macauley coordinated Rotary's participation in the SNIDs. PolioPlus Partners gave US$258,446 to Sierra Leone to support surveillance and immunization campaigns including such items as megaphones, bicycles, and refrigerators that were used in this campaign. Of the funds earmarked for the SNIDs in Sierra Leone, $75,000 came from a $500,000 gift of the late Paul and Jean Elder. "I think we are on target," said Macauley. "If we continue on This track, we will definitely be certified polio-free by the 2005 date." April 2002
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