Polio is unfinished business

Sep 21st, 2010 2:00 PM UTC
By Todd Summers

Polio is one of those diseases that is often unknown to people living in the rich world, especially younger generations. Many of us thought it was gone, and the good news is that it is on its way to being eradicated – just like smallpox.

But at a session during the MDG Summit, we heard that there’s still work to do. Indeed, the speakers pressed hard for the world to not give up when the job is nearly done. “Polio is unfinished business,” said Dr. Margaret Chan, the dynamo head of the World Health Organization. “We must not be complacent or let our guard down.”

I was struck especially by two speakers who came from opposite sides of the world. Faitima Gailani, head of Afghanistan’s Red Crescent Society (affiliated with Red Cross), described how tens of thousands of volunteers work through war and poverty to help get kids vaccinated. She told us that not a week goes by that she isn’t confronted by parents of a child stricken with polio who didn’t know a vaccine was available – and how heartbreaking it is to tell them that there’s nothing to be done. Wow. Just imagine the challenges she and her team encounter.

I was also struck by Jim Lacy, from Rotary International’s polio eradication effort. Here’s an older American business guy from Tennessee who’s totally passionate about finishing the job. Rotary’s been working on polio for over 20 years but says Lacy: “we’re as committed as we’ve ever been.” Count on them to keep the heat on politicians to come up with the money needed.

Expect to hear more from ONE about how you can help finish the job of eradicating polio!

TAGS: 2010 MDG Summit, Polio