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The Rotary Foundation honours UNICEF

Monday, 22 May 2000: The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International today honoured the Supply Division of UNICEF for procuring and coordinating the delivery of oral polio vaccine to over 100 countries in the global effort to eradicate polio.

Since 1982, UNICEF has purchased a total of 7.6 billion doses of oral polio vaccine for developing countries where the disease has caused untold suffering to millions of children. UNICEF also provides support for distribution of the vaccines and social mobilization activities to ensure that immunization reaches every child even in the remotest communities.

In presenting the Proclamation of Appreciation during UNICEF's Executive Board meeting, past Rotary International President James Lacy said, "UNICEF has long been one of the key partners in the global fight to eradicate polio. I am proud to present this proclamation to UNICEF for outstanding service to the children of the world."

Rotary recognized the UNICEF division for the following achievements:

• Consistently providing the most cost effective and highest quality oral polio vaccines;
• Timely notification and coordination of vaccine orders and negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers;
• Rapidly responding to critical and emergency situations relating to polio eradication, helping to stem outbreaks and protect vulnerable populations;
• Closely monitoring, tracking and coordinating the shipments of all polio vaccine to more than 100 countries.

Receiving the award on behalf of UNICEF, the agency's Executive Director, Carol Bellamy thanked Rotary International for the acknowledgement and commended the organization for its own outstanding contributions to ridding the world of polio. "Rotary International has been a great partner in this campaign which is now on track to certify the world polio-free by 2005," she said.

Ms. Bellamy also thanked Rotary International for its contributions to UNICEF totaling $198 million and for mobilizing thousands of volunteers to support immunization activities throughout the developing world.

The UNICEF chief said the greatest obstacle at present to achieving polio eradication is on-going armed conflicts in polio endemic countries in Africa and South Asia. "At the moment, the only thing between the world and the eradication of polio is the specter of continued armed conflict which entirely ignores the right of children to a hopeful and healthy future. Warring factions must lay down their weapons so that vaccines will reach all the world's children."

Within the last decade, the number of polio cases has been reduced by 95 per cent. Endemic on five continents in 1988, polio today affects children only in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Though worldwide polio eradication is in sight, the push to continue the flow of oral polio vaccine to endemic countries is at its most critical stage. As a consequence of war and inadequate infrastructure, intensified efforts and additional resources are being called for by the partners for approximately 20 nations that are likely to still have poliovirus transmission after the target date of the year 2000.

Rotary International is one of world's largest volunteer service organizations with 1.2 million members in 162 countries. The PolioPlus program, which started in 1985, is the most ambitious program in Rotary's history. The initiative is an aggressive public/private partnership to assist international health agencies and governments in eradicating polio. To date, Rotary has contributed US$373 million to the protection of nearly two billion children. By the year 2005, Rotary's financial commitment will reach nearly half a billion US dollars. In addition, thousands of Rotary volunteers assist in vaccine delivery, social mobilization and logistical support.

As part of the core global coalition dedicated to eradicating polio, Rotary, along with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is committed to a polio-free world by the year 2005.

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