Convention plenary sessions are a mixture of the prosaic formalities of a vast international organisation coupled with addresses from worthy and occasionally stand-out brilliant orators. Today paid tribute to the partnerships that Rotary International has made with other service organisations over decades. Rotary Foundation chair Glenn Estess updated us on the outstanding work of the charity despite economic setbacks - our continuing response to the Haiti earthquake disaster being a notable example and the progress of our fundraising efforts towards the Gates Polio Challenge now top the $133 million mark. Jo Luck, CEO of Heifer International explained how partnership with Rotary is furthering their development work.
We were graced with the presence of Queen Noor of Jordan who spoke of her determination to work for lasting peace in the Middle East and of her work for a nuclear free world.
But the standout highlight of the day for me was Dr. Bruce Aylward, Director, Global Polio Eradication Initiative, World Health Organisation. Bruce was outspoken in his praise for the work of Rotary - highlighted the extraordinary achievements of the last two years, following a period when polio seemed to be fighting back against our efforts. He described how we "have Polio on the run" with no new cases in Uttar Padesh or Bihar in the last six months and those in Nigeria showing a 99% drop in the past year. On the Afghan/Pakistan border there are now permanent immunisation stations to catch all of the children migrating across the border. And the release last year of a new bivalent vaccine which has increased the possibility of permanent immunisation by 50% has further helped our efforts. None of the work of the last two years in West Africa, in Uttar Padesh & Bihar and would have been possible without funds and the time of Rotarians through the Polioplus initiative. We have in thsoe two years fundamentally changed the game in our favour. It's just not possible to stress though how vital it is that we continue - polio continues to fight back - this year has seen more than 300 children paralysed in Tajikistan, with a migrant attack of the polio virus strain recently tamed in Uttar Pradesh. Adults have died, travel has been banned - this vital work must continue.
Dr Aylward closed by saying "Rotary's decision in 1985 challnged the world to change the course of history by eradicating this crippling disease. Rotary is the heart & soul of the largest global health effort in history".
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