India Declared Polio Free With Help From Rotary

He holds his index finger an eighth if an inch away from his thumb and says "we're this close" to eradicating polio from the face of the Earth.  But, Mike Johns, past Rotary International Director says we need to finish the job.  Rotary started it in 1978, and since then has vaccinated an estimated two billion children from the crippling disease.

This week, India became the latest country to eradicate polio, when officials there marked the third year without a case of the disease reported.  Rotary International's contribution is acknowledged in this article from The Economist.

Polio is still prevalent in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.  Rotary is hoping to change that with a push to raise $700 million. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed to donating two dollars to every dollar Rotary raises, up to $70 billion.

Mike Johns and Jerry Smith, Rotary District 6630 representative of the Rotary Foundation make the pitch in this interview to put an end to polio through Rotary's Polio Plus campaign.  Mike and Jerry are members of the Rotary Club of Cleveland.