Posted on Aug 28, 2017
Today we Celebrate the Impact of Frontline Polio Eradication Workers. People like Khalida, a supervisor of one of the female vaccination teams in Karachi, Pakistan, are game changers in the Polio Eradication effort. Khalida's influence has been critical in overcoming myths about vaccination and in building trust among communities there. World Polio Day is October 24, 2017 - See this link for ideas about How to Host Your Own World Polio Day Event.
 
On August 11th, the United Kingdom pledged $130 million toward the fight to eradicate polio, further reducing the $1.5 Billion funding shortfall to reach our 2019 Polio Eradication funding goals.
 
Three new cases of cVDPV2 were reported in Syria. The total number of cVDPV2 cases is 30. The first mOPV2 round was carried out successfully in Deir Ez-Zor governorate between 22-26 July. A total of 259,958 children under 5 years of age were vaccinated, representing overall administrative coverage of 79%. Among the children vaccinated, 24% were under 12 months of age.  Mayadeen district—the epicenter of the outbreak—achieved a 94% vaccination rate.  
 
Today’s Polio Eradication Fundraising Idea: Recognition. Club leadership should have access to your Club Recognition Summary report. From it, you can tell which of your members are near the Paul Harris Fellow levels. Ask those who are close to the $1,000 or $2,000 level to make a PolioPlus donation of the required amount, then celebrate their support of Global Polio Eradication when they receive their Paul Harris Certificate and pin.

The Final Three Endemic Countries:

Pakistan: No new Polio cases reported this week. Three cases reported in 2017 -the most recent from the Killa Abdullah Balochistan province with an onset on 6/10/17. Twenty Polio cases were reported in 2016. A special vaccination round is being implemented during August 2017 targeting areas with recent polio cases and positive environmental samples. These include Rawalpindi/Islamabad and demographically connected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Quetta Block and parts of Karachi. Two new WPV1-positive environmental samples were reported in the past week, collected on July 7, from Karachi.
 
Afghanistan: No new Polio cases reported this week. Five cases reported in 2017 - the most recent from Kandahar with the onset of paralysis on 6/19/17.  Thirteen Polio cases were reported in 2016. A new NID Campaign starts today 8/14/17 concentrating on Southern Afghanistan. One new Polio-positive environmental sample was collected this week in Afghanistan, collected on 7/7/17 from Lashkargah in Hilmand Province.
 
Nigeria: No new Polio cases reported this week.Four Polio cases reported in 2016 - with no cases reported in 2015. The most recent case was reported on 8/2016 on Borno State.

Terry Ziegler, Rotary District 5890 Polio Eradication Chair & Zone 21B/27 PHS Coordinator