This year'\;s observance of World Immunization Week\, 24-30 April\, signals a renewed effort to prevent an estimated 2 to 3 million deaths worldwide from vaccin e-preventable diseases\, including polio\, by closing immunization gaps. T he extensive polio-eradication infrastructure created by Rotary\, its part ners in the Glo bal Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)\, and governments and health m inistries provides a model for this effort.
\n\nRotary\, the World H ealth Organization (WHO)\, UNICEF\, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Contr ol &\; Prevention (CDC) joined together in 1988 to form GPEI with the g oal of protecting the world'\;s children by eradicating polio. At that time\, the di sease paralyzed more than 1\,000 people -- most of them young children &nd ash\; worldwide every day. Over the years\, Rotary and its partners have reduced the number of polio cases by 99 percent\, to fewer than 400 c ases in 2014\, and there are now only three countries in which polio trans mission has never been stopped.
\n\n"\;Rotarians have played a k ey role in bringing the world to the cusp of polio eradication\,"\; sa ys Mike McGovern\, chair of Rotary'\;s International PolioPlus Committe e. "\;They have contributed more than $1.3 billion to polio eradicatio n\, they have petitioned their governments to support the cause\, and they have donated countless hours to immunize children throughout the world. T hese achievements have laid the groundwork for a lasting legacy for the wo rld'\;s children."\;
\n\nRotary and its partners are looking to carry out a legacy health plan \;Ensuring that the knowledg e generated and lessons learned from years of polio eradication activities are shared with other health initiatives.
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