Gates
Foundation Pledges $100 Million to Rotary Polio
Eradication Effort
Donation will match future fundraising
Rotary International has
announced a partnership with the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that will inject a
much needed $200 million into the global effort to
eradicate polio. The Rotary Foundation received a $100
million Gates Foundation challenge grant, which Rotary
will raise funds to match, dollar for dollar, over three
years. Rotary will spend the initial $100 million within
one year in direct support of immunization activities
carried out by the
Global Polio Eradication Initiative, spearheaded by
the
World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary
International, the
U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
and UNICEF.
"The
extraordinary dedication of Rotary members has played a
critical role in bringing polio to the brink of
eradication," says Bill Gates, cochair of the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "Eradicating
polio will be one of the most significant public health
accomplishments in history, and we are committed to
helping reach that goal."
The polio
eradication grant is one of the largest challenge grants
ever given by the Gates Foundation and the largest grant
received by Rotary in its 102-year history. Since 1985,
Rotary has made polio eradication its top priority and
has contributed $633 million to the effort.
"Rotarians
worldwide have worked very hard over the years to reach
this point, and it is rewarding to see our approach
validated in such a significant way by the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation," says Dr. Robert Scott,
chair of The Rotary Foundation Trustees. "We hope that
this shared commitment of Rotary and the Gates
Foundation will challenge other donors, including
foundations, governments, and nongovernmental
organizations, to step up and make sure we have the
resources needed to rid the world of polio once and for
all."
The Gates
Foundation grant comes at a critical juncture for the
initiative, which urgently needs an infusion of funds to
reach the eradication goal. Although the initiative has
slashed the number of polio cases by 99 percent over the
past two decades, the wild poliovirus still persists in
four countries: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and
Pakistan. Polio cases represented by that final 1
percent are the most costly to prevent, due to
geographical isolation, poor public infrastructure,
armed conflict, cultural barriers, and other factors.
Most of the
initial $100 million will be spent in support of mass
immunization campaigns in polio-affected countries,
poliovirus surveillance activities, and community
education and outreach. The grant will also support an
expanded research agenda on ways to expedite
interruption of the transmission of the wild poliovirus.
Rotary will distribute the funds through grants to WHO
and UNICEF.
CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding says the
collaboration between Rotary and the Gates Foundation
underscores the importance of private-sector involvement
in major public health efforts. "As a government agency,
we think it's wonderful that our private-sector
colleagues have taken a leadership role in something as
important as polio eradication. Their participation is
absolutely critical."
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Don't Toss
Those 2008 Planners
We have had a club member
working in the Peace Corps in the South Pacific
(Vanuatu), for the better part of two years. Charlie
Hunt and his wife, Nancy Cole, have sent
periodic reports of their fascinating experience. Now
they need us for a service project. Last year we donated
calendars for use by the Venuatuites – Venuatusians? –
with whom they live. They were greatly appreciated, and
now some 2008 calendars are needed. Our point person for
this project, Catherine McEnroe will collect your 2008
pocket calendars, wall calendars, diaries, whatever is
available. Don't throw out those freebies from banks,
insurance companies, etc. Save them for Catherine.
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Cold Weather
Clothing for Kids to be Collected
Our Friday collections by
Utica Rotary's Urban Concerns Committee will be changing
its focus to winter clothing for pre teen children. Any
cold weather item in good condition will be accepted.
Please check your closets, attics and storage boxes for
items that will be put to good use. Collections
will be each Friday at Twin Ponds through the cold
weather months (could be May!!)
