It's been 26 years since the Rotary Clubs of the world began the push to eradicate Polio throughout the world. The group has seen success, as the incidence of Polio has been reduced by 99 percent since the project began. Only in Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan are there now cases of the disease. For World Polio Day, the club has committed to the final push to eradicate the disease.
Terry Tyson, past-president of the Rotary Club in Yorkton, says that it's a project that has been going on in Rotary clubs as central focus, but has really taken the forefront in recent years as the final push to get rid of the disease is taking place.
While the club in the city has not been able to mount a wider campaign outside of the membership, it's working to raise awareness in the surrounding community.
"There haven't been a lot of efforts until recent years to take the Polio Plus program and make it more of a community focus rather than a member focus. That's been borne of some of the numbers we're trying to raise. When you're talking about raising $200 million, it becomes an issue where you have to cast a wider net," Tyson explains.
The club is increasing its push on the program to get the final pockets of the disease taken out. The last few people at risk are also the hardest people to reach, Tyson says, and that requires the most effort.
"You're talking about regions of the world where it's just so difficult to reach people. You can't exactly put out a public notice on the radio or in The News Review and say come on out for your vaccination. You literally have to seek these children out and find them, and then get their parents. The parents have to trust that this western person who they don't know and don't speak the language of is doing something that is beneficial," he adds.
"But, it has come a huge long way, when we started in the 80s it was still a rampant disease in regions of Asia and Africa, and now it's really shrunk down, there are four countries where there are still known cases."
People interested in helping with the cause are invited to donate through the club. They can contact a member, or mail the club at Box 145, Yorkton, Sk. S3N 2V6.
