Leaders in the fight for immunisation

Press, 26 November 1987, Page 43

Leaders in the fight for immunisation

The global battle against polio and other preventable diseases is rapidly improving in success.

This is the result of two basic factors.

First, vaccine quality has improved, as have storage techniques. Second, new more aggressive social mobilisation strategies have resulted in the reaching of greater numbers of parents and their children. Nations are now organising on a massive scale to reach out and inform millions of parents of where and when to take their children on immunisation days. The W.H.0., (World Health Organisation), launched its expanded programe, (E.P.), on immunisation in 1974.

Three years later, in 1977, W.H.O. adopted a target of providing immunisation for all children by 1990. This development was in recognition of the fact that the mounting break-

throughs in technology and social mobilisation have made possible a concerted attack on vaccinepreventable diseases. At an ever increasing pace Rotary International has become a key component in the world-wide fight against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases. Direct Rotary International involvement began in 1979 when the Rotary Foundation approved a $760,000 grant as part of its Health, Hunger and Humanity, 3H, programme to immunise six million Philippine children against polio.

The first vaccine was shipped there in September, 1979. Social mobilisation was crucial to the success of the project and Rotary took an active role. Statistics from the Philippine Ministry of Health showed that from 1970 through to 1979 the number of notified polio cases ranged from 900 to 1500 with 250 and 350

deaths. From 1980 to 1982 when the project was nearing completion the number of polio cases decreased by a gratifying 70 per cent.

Since then as a new team mate of U.N.I.C.E.F. and W.H.O. Rotary has made further serious commitments.

From 1979-1982 Rotary targeted $U52,010,100 in immunisation funds to six countries and 13,165,000 children.

In 1983 and 1984, $U51,703,500 was approved for eight countries and 9,147,000 children. As of July 1986 Rotary International had pledged $U523,450,000 to immunise 151,169,000 children in 33 countries.

The raising and appropriation of funds for immunisation projects is just one part of the crucial role Rotary plays in the global immunisation battle.

Rotarians help in the formation of national health care policy. Through an activist role

in encouraging Governments to undertake and fund accelerated immunisation intervention Rotarians help increase Government commitment to adequate primary health care.

As part of the Rotary Foundation immunisation grant application procedure, Rotarians make site visits to countries seeking funds to ensure the country is adequately prepared to carry out such a scheme. If this is not the case Rotarians will often provide “seed money” to aid in establishing an adequate infrastructure for an immunisation programme. ■