Who makes a promise ... has to accomplish with it

All Rotarians recognize that the eradication of polio was a promise we made to humanity in 1988. We have been fighting to reach this goal for more than two decades with dedication and obstinacy.

We also know that the fulfillment of this promise is vital for our image and recognition by the community and that we cannot deviate from this task, characterized as the greatest priority.

We also cannot let this promise get old, because we had promise what we can deliver.

The fulfillment of difficult promises requires strategy, total attention and great unselfishness for us to be able to put into practice the changes contained on it.

Initially we impregnated ourselves with a lot of energy knowing the immensurability of the program while we were going forward. And this advancement only was revealed with the establishment for the first time of the date to reach our goal - 2005, when we would complete 100 years of existence, as a pioneer service organization.

To reach this goal plans were developed, that were improved along the journey and that allowed us to form into regiments essential partners like governments, the World Health Organization, the Center for Diseases Control, important Foundations, public and private organizations and without doubts, Rotarians.

Many challenges has been overcome, being the most recent and that for some time thought of to be unreachable based on the dimension of the effort needed. And that was the eradication of polio in India. The numbers of this effort in the last years reach mega proportions. Just to mention some, during one National Immunization Day it was needed to be organized and put to action about 709,000 vaccination stands, mobilize 1.17 million of immunizing teams, provide 225 million doses of vaccine, use of 2 million containers to make the safe transportation of the vaccines, in which 6.3 million bags of ice were used to preserve the recipients of vaccines until they reach their final destiny, 209 million homes visited and more than 172 million children immunized. The resources mobilized were enormous but the result very much rewarding.

Worldwide it was possible up to now (2016 - when this article is being revised), the reduction of the cases that occurred in the beginning of our journey in 99.9% and observing that 0.1% of the cases are in its majority occurring in only two endemic countries.

The current plan, named Polio Plus End Game estimates that by 2018 we will be seeing zero new cases and we will move in the world to the next step like it is being done in most countries to a contention strategy. Although it is difficult to confirm with much anticipation this date, the specialist from WHO believe it is feasible. To reach it, there are risks, progress and challenges to be faced, all of them related in some way with internal conflicts in the still endemic countries or when burst of cases occur and must be subdued through a concentrated effort. Lives of vaccinators were sacrificed, all of them of anonymous heroes on this battle, who unfold themselves to reach distant points in conflict zones. They will be forever remembered and certainly blessed.

The effort of Rotary to eradicate polio, without any doubt has placed our organization “in the map” for the first time in many generations. We cannot dare to stop to believe in our promise and periodically we need to review our strategy during our way.

Accomplishing promises promote changes and they will be perceived, by creating a permanent bond of trust between Rotarians and Rotary. And we will accomplish this one.

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