Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
obstacles. through its membership, rotary International was able to launch an
army of willing and able persons: members are organised into community clubs,
each of which took on specific tasks and thus became skilful in executing them. As
local business and professional leaders, who are highly motivated and resourceful,
many members brought specific related expertise, in fields such as medicine and
engineering. as community and national leaders, rotarians can help overcome local
or national political and bureaucratic problems as they arise. In this regard, rotary
International essentially became a ready-to-go effective management team able to
deploy personnel as needed.
The Global Polio Eradication Campaign
as the eradication of polio in latin america and the caribbean was moving at an
encouraging pace, it was a suitable template for expanding the campaign (de Quadros
1997, 128). In 1988, the world Health assembly (wHa) set the goal of eradicating
polio world-wide by 2000. rotary International was to play an essential role; in fact,
a portion of the funds it had raised had been directed to support a group of experts on
polio at the wHo to guide the global programme (beigbeder 1997).
The western Pacific region became the initial focus for the global campaign.
china had initiated its own biannual nIDs in 1993 with success similar to latin
america's. Following this example, most countries implemented the polio eradication
strategy, with India and 16 african countries beginning their nIDs in 1996. the
most difficult areas to reach have been countries in the midst of conflict. The polio
campaign adapted to such circumstances, however, and worked to negotiate 'Days
of Tranquillity', during which arms would be laid down in a cease-fire agreement so
that children caught behind the lines of combat could be immunised. Such initiatives
are needed more than ever in afghanistan and some western african countries.
the goals of eradication of 1990 for latin america and the caribbean and of
2000 for the world have been useful even though they were not entirely met. the
region of Latin America and the Caribbean was certified polio free in 1994, after the
last case was reported in 1991. The western Pacific was certified in 2000 and europe
in 2002. Globally, there were 1315 cases in 2007 (Global Polio eradication Initiative
2008a). nigeria, India, Pakistan, and afghanistan are still endemic countries while
angola, nepal, chad, eritrea, the Democratic republic of the congo, west africa,
and the Horn of africa have reported imported cases.
to achieve its polio-free status, the latin america and caribbean campaign
implemented operation Mop Up to tackle the lingering incidences. there were only
seven cases left in 1991 (six in colombia and one in Peru). the aggressive campaign
consisted of house-to-house visits to reach 1 million households. Such a labour-
intensive process was possible through the coordination and cooperation of rotary
and the other spearheading partners. today, similar efforts with two improved
vaccines are under way to reach the last strong holds of this virus around the world
(Global Polio eradication Initiative 2005).
