At our August meeting Veronica and Adrian Stabbins gave a talk with a video presentation about the work of Rotary International and their Eradicate polio campaign\u00a0\u00a0Rotarians have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries.\u00a0 Veronica and Adrian have volunteered in India several times and their video explained the process.\u00a0 India has a specific day when volunteers and Indian health workers set out to vaccinate all the children under five throughout the country – a daunting task.\u00a0 Each child receives two drops of vaccine under their tongue and this task is repeated for several years to build up immunity.\u00a0 In the poorest areas where there is little effective hygiene this process has proved incredibly successful.\u00a0 Parents are all too aware of the dreadful consequences of contracting polio and the majority are delighted that their children can be vaccinated – the children are less happy but generally enjoy receiving a small toy!\u00a0 Amazingly this painstaking task has resulted in 99% take up and the disease is almost eradicated.\u00a0 From next year the Indian government will be building medical centres so that children can be vaccinated in properly designed facilities and hopefully continuing the programme to the desired 100% eradication.<\/p>\n
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