Update on Rotary International's Polio Eradication Drive

The war against Polio continues… but the victory is now in sight ! The crippling disease that held the world to ransom in the 1950's and 1960's has almost been eliminated with those two tiny drops of oral polio vaccine, a well thought out strategy, large financial resources and the dedication and commitment of thousands of devoted volunteers and international health agencies.

Rotary International  is the volunteer arm of a global partnership dedicated to eradicating polio. In 1985, Rotary volunteers around the world embraced the fight against polio and 'POLIOPLUS' was born.

Till date, the PolioPlus programme has contributed US $610 million for the protection of more than two billion children. By 2007 the end of the programme, Rotary's contribution will touch more than US$650 million apart from the manpower, materials and individual support provided by 1.2 million Rotarians world wide.

Polio is a disease caused by a germ that lives in the throat and intestines. It is most often spread through contact with the stool (bowel movement) of an infected person. Polio germs can also be spread through food and water. The disease mainly affects children under 5 years old, but unvaccinated people of any age are at risk.

The following countries, however, have had imported polio cases or cases related to an imported case in the past 24 months: Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burma (Myanmar), Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Niger, Somalia, and Sudan. Of these countries, Bangladesh, Benin, Burma (Myanmar), and DRC had previously been polio-free for over 4 years, and Kenya had been polio-free for over 10 years. The following countries are at risk for poliovirus importation because they are located near endemic or recently infected countries: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Ghana, Mali, Namibia, Rwanda, Togo, and Uganda. 

Tuguegarao rotary clubs act as co-conveners of Forum on Good Governance & Ethical Leadership

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The various rotary clubs in Tuguegarao, that is, Rotary Club of Tuguegarao-Citadel, Rotary Club of Tuguegarao-Rainbow, Rotary Club of Metro Tuguegarao, and the Rotary Club of Tuguegarao, co-convenors, along with His Execellency Most Rev. Diosdado A. Talamayan, DD, Archbishop of Tuguegarao, and other Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), held the FORUM ON GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ETHICAL LEADERSHIP at the Centennial Arch, Saint Paul University, Philippines (SPUP) at Tuguegarao City with Governor “Among” Ed Panlilio of the province of Pampanga as the main Speaker. Governor Grace Padaca of the province of Isabela was also in town on the eve of the Forum, but have to leave for Canada the next day.

The Forum highlighted the effects of poverty and the depressing state  of Philippine politics, the prevailing corrupt practices of government officials, and the need of the nation to re-examine the manner of choosing righteous leaders for elective public office. Governor “Among” Ed Panlilio narrated how he was elected by the people of Pampanga who rallied behind him and “owned” the movement of electing their candidate, then Rev. Father Ed Panlilio, into office. It was the people who believed in righteous leadership who worked hard and provided every need by sharing their time, talents and resources. He related the story that the Philippines is like a dirty toilet, that in order to clean it, you will have to enter the same in order to be able to clean it effectively. Thus his objective is to bring change into the political arena through good governance, that is, without the traditional and pervasive graft and corruption that is infesting our political system.

Governor “Among” Ed Panlilio also encouraged the participants to choose the right political candidates, preferably “from faithful Catholics and born again institutions.” He explained that good governance simply means, simple living, love for others, transparency, accountability, ecologically sound environment, active participation of the people against illegal gambling, and against corruption in local government, among others. He further explained that it is possible for the nation to attain progress and development if good governance is actually put into practice.

The forum was attended by hundreds of college students, businessmen and professionals, officials from the local government units, officers and members of various NGOs, and also officials from the national government agencies./Christian D. Sales

(More about this story: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/129955/Group-summons-Cagayan-Valley-youth-leaders-help-drive-for-political-reforms) ILAGAN, Isabela – Members of the political reform group Kaya Natin! have asked the youth in Cagayan Valley region to be part of the growing movement for good government. LINK