Frequently Asked Questions About PolioPlus
Q: What is polio?
A: Polio is an infectious disease caused by the polio
virus. The disease can strike at any age, butt ypically affects children
under three. The virus is passed through poor or careless hygiene,
entering the body through the mouth, then multiplying
inside the throat and the intestines. Once established, the polio virus
can enter the bloodstream and invade the central nervous system,
spreading along nerve fibers. As it multiplies, the virus
destroys the motor neurons that activate muscles. The nerve cells cannot
be regenerated and the affected muscles no longer function. Polio paralysis
is almost always irreversible. In the most severe cases, polio virus attacks
the motor neurons of the brain stem, resulting in difficulty breathing
and can result in death. Most children and adults infected with the polio
virus suffer only symptoms of a fever; only 1% of polio cases result in
paralysis.
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Q: Why did Rotary choose polio?
A: During the 1970s, Rotary International began a search
a global humanitarian program where members could actively participate
not just by fund-raising, but by volunteering in their communities and
across the world — the cornerstone of Rotary's charter. The answer came
in 1979 when Rotary launched a five-year polio immunization program in
the Philippines along with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the
Philippine Ministry of Health. The initiative was declared a success, signifying
the end of Rotary's search.
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Q: Isn't the program finished?
A: This is a common misconception in polio free countries.
It is true that major gains have been made in the global fight against
polio. In September 1994, the entire Western Hemisphere was certified polio
free. But, some of the most difficult battles have yet to be fought. Fifty
countries remain polio endemic. Many of these countries lack sufficient
political and economic commitment, or are embroiled in conflicts.
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Q: What will be needed to achieve the goal of a polio
free world?
A: Nothing less than the active participation of every
Rotarian in every club and district in the world. Polio is a disease that
does not respect geographical or political borders. To become
complacent is to risk losing the gains we have made.
Therefore, every Rotarian to continue their commitment to global
polio eradication by remaining knowledgeable about Rotary's historic support
of this public health initiative and by participating in
the PolioPlus Program and PolioPlus Partners Programs.
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Q: What is an NID?
A: National Immunization Days aim to interrupt the
circulation of the wild polio virus by immunizing every child in the highest
risk age group (normally under the age of five) quickly and effectively
by
flooding a country with the oral polio vaccine. In countries
where polio is endemic, this usually involves organizing two rounds of
National Immunization Days a year — one month apart — for a
period of at least three years. The aim is to catch children
who are non-immunized, or only partially protected and boost the immunity
of children already immunized. This way, every child in the most susceptible
age group is protected against polio at the same time - instantly depriving
the virus of the fertile seedbed to thrive.
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Q: What is social mobilization?
A: Social mobilization is organized community activities
designed to help make effective the immunization, surveillance and polio
eradication goals at regional, national and local levels. It is the
name given to the vast cooperative effort of public and
private organizations comprising the thousands of individual elements necessary
to make National Immunization Day campaigns
successful. Rotary International's definition of social
mobilization includes the following activities:
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Publicity campaigns concerning immunization days.
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Logistical support at immunization centers such as record
keeping, care and service for those awaiting immunization and to those
conducting immunizations.
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Transportation of personnel or materials to immunization
centers.
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Education of medical and health care personnel, community
leaders, parents and the general public in the importance of polio immunization
and eradication and ways in which they can help achieve goals.
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Q: What is surveillance?
A: This hefty term essentially refers to the monitoring
at the local, national, regional and global level of the incidence and
transmission of polio. This absolutely critical element of polio eradication
involves rapid collection and assessment of a stool sample of a child who
is suspected to have polio. This work begins with reporting of suspected
cases of polio by health workers and
pediatricians at the local level. Stool specimens are
obtained from children suspected to have polio. A network of more than
80 laboratories around the world performs analysis of such samples.
The work is anything but glamorous. However, it will
become increasingly important as we approach the achievement of a polio-free
world.
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Q: What is the "Plus" in PolioPlus?
A: The "Plus" in PolioPlus has evolved over time. Today
it refers to the legacy that the global polio eradication initiative has
created which can be applied to future health concerns. Lessons learned
from this historic 20 year-drive include:
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Massive public education drives to promote immunization activities;
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Vaccine deployment strategies to reach children in remote
or isolated regions;
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Tools such as vaccine carriers to protect vaccine in harsh
temperatures and specimen containers needed to preserve the integrity of
samples;
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The public-private partnerships formed to fortify national
government's health programs will serve as a model for years to come;
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Strengthened worldwide laboratory network will continue to
support disease surveillance efforts long after polio has been eradicated;
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and Most importantly, the global polio eradication program
has paved the way for cease-fire truce agreements in a number of warring
nations, negotiating major humanitarian assistance in fragile environments.
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Q: What major public health initiative will Rotary
support next?
A: Rotary International is committed to achieving polio
eradication. The Rotary Foundation Trustees have stated the commitment
in their "Statement on Commitment to Global Polio Eradication" which reads
as follows:
"The Trustees of The Rotary Foundation,
in accordance with the decision adopted by the 1995 Council on Legislation,
affirm that the global eradication of polio is, and must remain, the premier
goal of Rotary International and its Foundation
until the day that the world is certified as being rid of the polio
virus."
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