Our Speaker Today:

Ellen Book and Daniel Berger

Ellen and Daniel spoke to our group about their experience in India for the National Immunization Day as part of the Polio Plus campaign. They shared their experiences on the trip to India, along with slides that depicted the conditions in India and the beautiful faces on the children. Ellen told us about the warmth of their Rotary host family, the primitive living conditions of the poor, and the importance of the campaign to eliminate polio. Please read the article below, written by Ellen.

My husband Daniel and I volunteered during the National Immunization Day (NID) last February 7^th in Chandigarh, India.  I had never been to India. I never thought I would be involved in a medical mission.  The incredibly warm people I met along this trip opened my eyes to the effectiveness of Polio Plus.  Seeing firsthand how professional, how dedicated, and how successful the campaign has been I have said YES to the 6990’s Polio Plus Chair appointment for 2010-11. 

Now that I have witnessed the process, it is my personal obligation to broadcast to everyone I meet how very close we are to ending this scourge.  The lyrics to Brooke Fraser’s song Albertine fit.  “Now that I have seen / I am responsible / Faith without deeds is dead. “ 

In 1988, there were 350,000 polio cases.  Twenty years later, there are less than 2,000.  With a worldwide number so small, what if we were content with keeping polio at this level?  The polio virus lives in the throat and intestinal tract of infected persons. The virus enters the body through the mouth, usually from hands contaminated with the stool of an infected person. Objects, such as eating utensils, can spread the virus.  With the current global lack of sanitation and clean water sources, with the huge numbers that travel across borders, ignoring the last cases of polio invites its eventual return throughout the world.  Ignoring the last vestiges will cause a resurgence.

Right NOW, we have the polio-fighting infrastructure.  Right NOW, we have nearly rid the globe of this threat. What can YOU do?  First, learn more at:  http://rotary.org//EndPolio/.  Second, consider going to India yourself next February. I guarantee that you will be proud of the Rotarian determination to continue this fight.