Jul 2017 Dr Keith Barnard-Jones on Polio Eradication

Mon, Jul 24th 2017 at 5:45 pm - 8:00 pm

a 2 course meal followed by a talk. Speaker Host - Martin Hudson, General Host - Suzie Filmer, Cashier - Vicky Burman.

crocus pins.

Today we have a talk updating us on this international Rotary project and its current and future status.  An incredible number of world figures and celebrities support this drive to eliminate this devastating disease - and we are This Close !

Dr Keith Barnard-Jones and his wife Judy travelled up from Devon to be with us.
Keith is a past Board Director of RI (2002 - 2004) and also a Past Rotary GB&I President - he has been deeply involved with the Polio Eradication Initiative from the very beginning  and has been a National advocate for End Polio Now.  His wife, Judy, who is with him, is Past District Governor and in her own right a very dedicated Rotarian

The talk was an update on our rotary polio eradication policy  - a worldwide project, aided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, together with many other volunteers currently in Nigeria, Afghanistan & Pakistan on the borders with India.

In 1985 there were approx. 350,000 outbreaks of poliomiolitis across the globe each year.
As of today (2017) there are only about 6-8 international polio cases per year - mainly in Afghanistan & Pakistan.
In these areas the difficulty in reaching children is partly due to the mountainous access to villages and also
the possibility of terrorist activity. The recent small outbreak in Nigeria is being overcome.

To get this far has taken over 35 years but all the same it is considered to be a remarkable
global achievement mainly from Rotary Clubs world wide and widely respected by the countries involved.

We were shown a sad picture of a young boy with polio who had lost the use of both legs.
In two or three years time the planet may be free from the scourge of polio, but we were told
that to be sure of this desirable outcome we must wait for three years to ensure
the world is free from this awful, debilitating disease.

Our symbol for this project is of course the purple crocus - pins available from John Helmsing.

https://www.endpolio.org/

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