Fight Against Polio Gains Moment in Ethiopia

A large group of Rotarians from the U.S. join the final push against the virus

Over eighyt Rotarians from the United States are expected here in Ethiopia to witness one of the world's massive anti-polio campaigns that would be launched in the country next week. The four-score Rotarians are mainly from Seattle and the nearby areas where there are a large number of rotary Clubs, Rotary community corps and other voluntary groups. One of the conspicuous fights against the age-old and debilitating polio virus would be marked by a National Immunization Days (NID) that is to be launched in Ethiopia late next week.

Rotarians in Ethiopia and the guests of honors (i.e. the visiting Rotarians from the US) would accompany public health professionals and other volunteers to inoculate thousands of children in different parts of the country. The two-round trip-vaccination NID campaign is expected to drastically diminish the prevalence of the hitherto devastating scourge of the poliovirus in the country. According to statistical reports of the World Health Organization and Rotary International, Ethiopia is among ten countries in the world where the horrible poliovirus is still prevalent. The other worlds last bases of the virus most of them countries in Africa include Angola, Afghanistan, Egypt, Indian Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and the Sudan.

After participating in the NID campaign, the visiting Rotarians would have the opportunity of witnessing multi-faceted efforts of the Rotary Clubs in Ethiopia. There are seven rotary clubs in the country five of them in Addis and one each in the towns of Dire Dawa and Nazareth. Rotary International has nearly 30,000 Rotary Clubs throughout the world with a total membership of over 1,200,000.n

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