In 1985, Rotary International launched PolioPlus, one of the most ambitious humanitarian programs ever undertaken by a private entity. PolioPlus was in large part the catalyst for the World Health Assembly's adoption in 1988 of the goal of polio eradication. Rotary takes pride in its commitment to help achieve a polio-free world by 2005.
Polio is still a problem in eight countries, with India, Pakistan and Nigeria accounting for 98.5% of cases.
The worldwide campaign backed by governments and organisations such as Rotary has provided hundreds of millions of dollars to eradicate polio, and has reduced the number of cases to just 480 in 2001.
India had 268 cases until a lapse in the immunisation program in 2002, because people believed wrongly that it was under control, led to an outbreak of 1320 cases.
Just two precious drops of oral polio vaccine can save a child from lifelong paralysis.
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