Page 8 - Gears and Ears May 2013

From Rotary International

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Rotarians are playing a vital role in advocating government support for
global polio eradication through meetings with world leaders and public
awareness events. Rotary International on Facebook
The 2013-18 Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan and about
US$4 billion in funding commitments took center stage at the Global
Vaccine Summit in Abu Dhabi 24-25 April.
Developed by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the plan is
designed to interrupt transmission of the wild poliovirus by the end of
2014, strengthen routine immunization, lay the groundwork for securing a
lasting polio-free world, and transfer the eradication initiative’s assets to
Rotary News — 25 April 2013 other public health efforts.

The GPEI estimates the new plan will cost about US$5.5 billion. Governments, nongovernmental organizations,
foundations, and other donors announced the commitments during the vaccine summit. They also called upon
additional donors to commit the additional US$1.5 billion needed to ensure eradication.

The Global Vaccine Summit was hosted by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of
Abu Dhabi, in partnership with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Bill Gates, co-chair of the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The event drew 300 representatives from the GPEI partners and national
governments, health experts, business leaders, and philanthropists. Rotary’s International PolioPlus Committee
Chair Robert Scott, India National PolioPlus Committee Chair Deepak Kapur, and PolioPlus Director Carol
Pandak represented Rotary at the summit. Rotary polio ambassador and actress Archie Panjabi emceed the
event.

“This plan isn’t just a polio eradication plan, it’s a global immunization plan with the goal of ending polio while
improving efforts to protect all children, including the most vulnerable, with life-saving vaccines,” said Gates.
“Successful implementation of the plan requires a significant, but time-limited investment that will deliver a polio-
free world and pay dividends for future generations.”

Rotary International, along with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, are global partners in the GPEI. One of Rotary’s chief
responsibilities in the worldwide effort is advocacy. In addition to contributing more than US$1.2 billion to the
GPEI, Rotary has helped secure over $9 billion from donor governments since the initiative began in 1988. It is
estimated that polio eradication could save the world US$40-50 billion by 2035.

Gates announced that his foundation would commit to one-third of the total cost of the GPEI’s budget over the
plan’s six-year implementation, for a total of $1.8 billion. A new group of philanthropists joined Gates in
supporting the new plan, with commitments of an additional $335 million: the Albert L. Ueltschi Foundation,
Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation-Global, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Carlos Slim Foundation, Dalio Foundation,
Foundation for a Greater Opportunity established by Carl C. Icahn, and Tahir Foundation.