News Release

For immediate release

Rotary clubs of South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Nigeria, Uganda, and Ghana team up with NGOs, businesses and governments for Rotary Family Health Days

EVANSTON, Ill. (March 28, 2014) — Rotary Family Health Days – an innovative international campaign providing free health-care services to underserved families -- launches its fourth edition in April 2014, aiming to reach 350,000 people in Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho.

Rotary Family Health Days (RFHD) promotes healthy living and disease prevention by providing free, comprehensive health-care services to tens of thousands of people in underprivileged communities. The program, led by Rotary’s mobilizing arm - Rotarians for Family Health & AIDS Prevention - addresses Africa’s most pressing health challenges, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and reproductive health, as well as conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. An important component is immunizing children against polio, measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

The Rotary-led program is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation, the South Africa Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC, USAID, the SABC and Caxton as primary media partners as well as YFM, Media 24 news and Independent Newspapers in the Western Cape.

RFHD launched in 2011 at 160 sites in Uganda and Kenya and immediately exceeded organizers’ expectations by drawing 38,000 people to the one-day event. In 2012, Nigeria signed on and the program expanded to three days.  By 2013, RFHD operated 368 sites in Uganda, Nigeria and South Africa, reaching over 275,000 people. More than 5,500 Rotary members from 362 clubs participated.  

“We believe we have achieved ‘proof of concept’ and identified the power of our health campaign,” said Marion Bunch, director and managing partner of RFHD and a Rotary club member from Georgia, USA, who became active in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa after losing a son to the disease, and has since expanded the scope of her efforts to address other health issues. “We have learned that when a campaign delivers several interventions at once, the benefits rise exponentially for families and communities.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year millions of Africans die from diseases that are preventable and treatable. The region faces many challenges including weak and fragmented health systems, inadequate resources for delivering proven interventions, limited access to health-services and extreme poverty. Rotary Family Health Days addresses these challenges by bringing life-saving health services into the communities most at risk.

Rotary Family Health Days 2014

• South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho: April 2-4 (160 sites)
• Ghana: April 10-12 (30 sites)
• Uganda: April 10-12 (120 sites)
• Nigeria: April 24-26 (150 sites)

About Rotary

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges.Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.

Note to journalists:

Video and still images will be available on the Rotary Media Center.

SABC will air a 24-minute documentary about Rotary Family Health Days on Sunday, 30 March 2014. To view the trailer, click here.

Contacts:

Rotary: Stéphanie Tobler, +41 44 387 714 16, stephanie.tobler@rotary.org

S. Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland: Annemarie Mostert, 0824574558, annemarie@rfha.org

Uganda: Fred Massade, 0753 670020, fmasadde@moreuganda.com

Ghana: Willie Keteku (Accra), 020 201 2348, williekay@gmail.com

Nigeria: Olugbemiga Olowu (Ikeja), 234-802-323-8561, lutaynigeria@yahoo.com

News Release

For immediate release

Film will air on SABC ahead of Rotary Family Health Days 2014; a project that brings free health services into underserved communities in six countries over three days

EVANSTON, Ill. (March 28, 2014) — The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will air a 24-minute documentary about a project that brings free health care to African families on Sunday, March 30, 2014 at 9 a.m. (SABC3) and 12.30 p.m. (SABC1) in South Africa. It will be rebroadcast in April on affiliate stations throughout Africa.

The film, produced by Rotary International, documents the tremendous burden HIV/AIDS has had on African families and communities, and covers the journeys of two women: South African grandmother Me Maria, who is raising her two grandsons after their parents died of AIDS; and Marion Bunch, an American woman who drew strength from personal tragedy after losing her son to AIDS to become a global advocate and the inspiration behind the creation of Rotary Family Health Days. The project, now in its fourth year and supported by Rotary clubs throughout Africa, delivers free basic health care – including HIV/AIDS screening and other preventive services -- to families in underserved communities.

The documentary captures an emotional meeting between Bunch and Me Maria as the women reflect on how the disease has impacted their lives and families and the steps they are taking to fight it.

“The tremendous burden on the families of those infected by HIV/AIDS – particularly for older people caring for their terminally ill children and raising their grandchildren, and for children orphaned by this disease is incalculable,” said Bunch. “This is a story of people coming together to help fight this global killer and other preventable diseases.”

The film will air ahead of Rotary Family Health Days 2014, which will take place in Uganda, Ghana, South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho and Nigeria throughout the month of April. To view the trailer, click here.

In addition to airing the documentary, SABC will broadcast messages and information across Africa on SABC television channels and radio stations in eleven languages to promote participation in Rotary Family Health Days in April 2014.

About Rotary Family Health Days 2014

Rotary Family Health Days – an innovative international campaign providing free health care to underserved families -- launches its fourth edition in April 2014, aiming to reach 350,000 people in Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. The program addresses Africa’s most pressing health challenges, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and reproductive health, as well as diabetes and hypertension. An important component is immunizing children against polio, measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

• South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho: April 2-4 (160 sites)
• Ghana: April 10-12 (30 sites)
• Uganda: April 10-12 (120 sites)
• Nigeria: April 24-26 (150 sites)

About Rotary

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges.Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.

Note to journalists:

Video and still images on upcoming Rotary Family Health Days will be available on the Rotary Media Center.

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Contacts: 

Rotary: Stéphanie Tobler, +41 44 387 714 16, stephanie.tobler@rotary.org

Rotary (Johannesburg): Sue Paget, 083-456-3923 spaget@rffa.org

SABC: Leo Manne, leo@sabc1.co.za

PRESSEMITTEILUNG

Kontakt: Petina Dixon-Jenkins (847) 866-3054; petina.dixon@rotary.org

Rotary stellt weitere 35,9 Millionen USD für den Kampf gegen Polio in Afrika und Asien bereit

EVANSTON, Illinois, USA (18 Feb. 2014) — Rotary gab heute die Freigabe von fast 36 Millionen USD zur Unterstützung von Impf- und Forschungsmaßnahmen im Kampf gegen die Kinderlähmung bekannt. Damit wird auf Anfrage von WHO und UNICEF zusammen mit betroffenen Ländern die Global Polio Eradication Initiative unterstützt, deren Ziel es ist, die Krankheit bis 2018 ausgerottet zu haben.

Diese Zusage kommt zu einem kritischen Zeitpunkt der Initiative, denn es gilt, die Virusübertragung in den letzten drei noch endemischen Ländern endgültig zu unterbrechen. Das ist besonders dringend angesichts kürzlicher Wiederausbrüche in Ländern, in denen die Krankheit bereits als ausgerottet galt, und denen mit massiven Impfkampagnen begegnet werden muss. So war ein Ausbruch in Somalia auf einen Virusstamm aus dem noch endemischen Nigeria zurückzuführen. Bereits im letzten Jahr hatte Rotary Impfungen im vom Bürgerkrieg zerrissenen Syrien mitfinanziert, einem Land, in dem davor seit 1999 keine Fälle mehr aufgetaucht waren. Hier stammte das eingeschleppte Virus aus Pakistan.

Die neuen Rotary Grants schließen folgende Beträge ein:
Afghanistan: 6,8 Millionen USD
Nigeria: 7,7 Millionen USD
Pakistan: 926.000 USD
Burkina Faso: 2,1 Millionen USD
Kamerun, 3,4 Millionen USD
DR Kongo, 3,9 Millionen USD
Niger: 2,3 Millionen USD
Somalia: 1,3 Millionen USD
Süd-Sudan: 2,6 Millionen USD
Sudan: 1,2 Millionen USD
Die Weltgesundheitsorganisation WHO erhält zudem 934,000 USD für Studien eines
Injektionsimpfstoffs, der in der Endphase des Kampfes gegen die Krankheit zum Einsatz kommen soll, das Kinderhilfswerk UNICEF erhält 2,73 Millionen USD für Impfungen am Horn von Afrika, wo eine
Viruseinschleppung in Somalia über 200 Kinder infizierte.

Die Ausrottung der Kinderlähmung ist seit den 80er Jahren eine Handlungspriorität für Rotary. Rotary Clubs in aller Welt haben seitdem über 1,2 Milliarden USD gespendet und zahllose Einsätze geleistet, um durch massive Impfkampagnen die Zahl der Polio-Erkrankungen seit 1988 um 99 Prozent zu reduzieren. Zur Global Polio Eradication Initiative gehören neben Rotary, der WHO und UNICEF auch die US-Gesundheitsbehörden CDC sowie die Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, die derzeit Rotary Spenden von bis zu 35 Millionen USD pro Jahr im Verhältnis 1:2 bezuschusst.

Rotary ist eine weltweite Vereinigung engagierter Männer und Frauen, die sich in den drängenden humanitären Problemen der Welt von heute engagieren. Die 1,2 Millionen Mitglieder sind in 34.000 Clubs in 200 Ländern der Erde organisiert. Weitere Informationen finden Sie bei rotary.org.

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COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

Contacto: Petina Dixon-Jenkins (847) 866-3054; petina.dixon@rotary.org

EVANSTON, Ill. (18 de febrero de 2014) — Rotary anunció hoy la concesión de subvenciones por un total de casi US$ 36 millones destinados a financiar las actividades de vacunación e investigación de la Iniciativa Mundial para la Erradicación de la Polio, cuyo objetivo es erradicar esta enfermedad viral incapacitante en todo el mundo para el año 2018.

Este compromiso de financiación se produce en un momento crítico, cuando la iniciativa concentra sus esfuerzos en detener la transmisión de la polio en los tres países donde todavía es endémica: Afganistán, Nigeria y Pakistán. La interrupción de la transmisión de la polio en esos países es necesaria para acabar con la reciente serie de brotes en países previamente libres de polio, en los que deberán llevarse a cabo campañas masivas de vacunación hasta que se alcance la erradicación del virus en todo el mundo.

Las subvenciones de Rotary incluyen US$ 6,8 millones para Afganistán, US$ 7,7 millones para Nigeria y US$ 926.000 para Pakistán. Los importes de estas subvenciones se basan en los montos solicitados por el UNICEF y la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), socios de Rotary en esta iniciativa, quienes colaboran con los gobiernos de los países afectados por la polio en la planificación e implementación de las actividades de vacunación.

El UNICEF utilizará una subvención de US$ 2,73 millones para intensificar las actividades de vacunación en el Cuerno de África, en respuesta al brote de polio registrado en 2013 y que ya ha afectado a más de 200 niños. Estos casos "importados" están vinculados con la cepa endémica en Nigeria, lo que pone de relieve la necesidad de interrumpir la transmisión del virus en los países polioendémicos.

Rotary también destinará US$ 2,1 millones a Burkina Faso, US$ 3,4 millones a Camerún, US$ 3,9 millones a la República Democrática del Congo, US$ 2,3 millones a Níger, US$ 1,3 millones a Somalia, US$ 2,6 millones a Sudán del Sur y US$ 1,2 millones a Sudán.

La OMS también recibió US$ 934.000 los cuales destinará a sufragar un estudio del impacto de añadir al programa de inmunización la vacuna inyectable creada a partir de virus inactivos, todo ello como parte del plan para las últimas etapas de la erradicación.

Por otro lado, y sin relación con estas subvenciones, en diciembre de 2013 Rotary destinó US$ 500.000 como respuesta de emergencia al brote de polio en Siria, país que no había reportado casos de polio desde 1999. Desde octubre de 2013 al 31 de enero de 2014, se habían confirmado 23 casos de polio en Siria, todos ellos vinculados a la cepa presente en Pakistán.

Rotary lanzó PolioPlus, su programa de inmunización contra la polio, en 1985 y en 1988 se convirtió en uno de los colaboradores principales de la Iniciativa Mundial para la Erradicación de la Polio, junto a la OMS, el UNICEF y los Centros de EE.UU. para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades. Desde su lanzamiento en 1988, la iniciativa ha logrado reducir la incidencia de la polio más del 99%, pasando de unos 350.000 casos al año a 400 casos confirmados hasta el momento en 2013.

Las principales funciones encomendadas a Rotary en el marco de la iniciativa son la captación de fondos, la incidencia política y la movilización social. Hasta la fecha, Rotary ha contribuido más de US$ 1.200 millones y un sinnúmero de horas de trabajo voluntario a la lucha contra la polio. Hasta el año 2018, por cada dólar que Rotary destine a la erradicación de la polio, la Fundación Bill y Melinda Gates aportará dos (hasta un máximo de US$ 35 millones anuales).

Rotary

Somos una red mundial de voluntarios dedicados a abordar los problemas humanitarios más acuciantes. Mediante actividades que abarcan desde la ayuda a familias desfavorecidas hasta la lucha contra la polio, nuestros socios generan cambios positivos en sus comunidades y en el mundo. Para más información, visite Rotary.org.

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COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE

Contact: Petina Dixon-Jenkins (847) 866-3054; petina.dixon@rotary.org

Le Rotary renouvelle son engagement contre la polio en Afrique et en Asie

EVANSTON, Ill. (18 fév. 2014) — Le Rotary annonce l'allocation de près de 36 millions de dollars pour soutenir les activités de vaccination et de recherche menées par l'Initiative mondiale pour l'éradication de la polio (IMEP). L'objectif est d'éradiquer cette maladie contagieuse et invalidante d'ici à 2018.

Ce nouvel engagement financier arrive à point nommé car il va permettre à l'initiative d'éradication de se concentrer sur les trois derniers pays endémiques : Afghanistan, Nigeria et Pakistan. Stopper la polio dans ces pays est essentiel pour mettre un terme aux récents épisodes épidémiques dans d'autres pays où la vaccination de masse doit se poursuivre jusqu'à l'éradication du virus.

La subvention du Rotary comprend 6,8 millions de dollars pour l'Afghanistan, 7,7 millions pour le Nigeria et 926 000 dollars pour le Pakistan. La répartition des fonds a ainsi été réalisée sur la base des demandes des partenaires de l'IMEP - l'UNICEF et l'OMS – qui travaillent avec les gouvernements des pays affectés pour organiser les activités de vaccination.

L'UNICEF utilisera également 2,73 millions de dollars pour soutenir les activités de vaccination dans la Corne de l'Afrique dans le cadre de la réponse aux épidémies qui sont survenues au début de l'année 2013 et qui ont touché plus de 200 enfants. Les cas importés de polio y sont liés aux souches endémiques présentes au Nigeria, soulignant à nouveau l'importance de l'extinction du virus dans les trois pays endémiques.

D'autres pays vont bénéficier des fonds du Rotary pour lutter contre la polio : 2,1 millions de dollars sont alloués au Burkina Faso ; 3,4 millions au Cameroun ; 3,9 millions à la République démocratique du Congo ; 2,3 millions au Niger ; 1,3 million à la Somalie ; 2,6 millions au Sud Soudan et 1,2 million au Soudan.

Marie-Irène Richmond Ahoua, membre de Commission Régionale PolioPlus pour l'Afrique dit, "Il apparaît urgent de renouveler notre engagement et surmonter les derniers obstacles restants tant il est vrai que nous sommes condamnés à réussir. Cela coûterait encore plus cher si nous devions enregistrer une résurgence de la polio en Afrique Subsaharienne, à l'exception du Nigéria".

Alors que nous approchons de notre objectif et de la phase finale du Plan stratégique pour l'éradication de la polio, l'OMS recevra également 934 000 dollars pour étudier l'impact de l'introduction dans les campagnes de vaccination du vaccin antipoliomyélitique injectable contenant des virus inactivés.

Au-delà de cette subvention, le Rotary a déjà alloué 500 000 dollars à la réponse d'urgence contre l'épidémie qui a frappé la Syrie fin 2013, un pays qui n'avait pas été touché par cette maladie depuis 1999. D'octobre 2013 au 31 janvier 2014, 23 cas de polio y ont été confirmés et tous sont liés à la souche pakistanaise du virus.

Le Rotary a lancé son programme PolioPlus en 1985 et il est devenu en 1988 l'un des fers de lance de l'Initiative mondiale pour l'éradication de la polio avec l'OMS, l'UNICEF et le Centre américain pour le contrôle et la prévention des maladies. Depuis, le nombre de cas de polio dans le monde a diminué de plus de 99 % pour ne plus en compter que 400 en 2013.

Le travail du Rotary se concentre sur le plaidoyer, les collectes de fonds, la mobilisation des bénévoles et la sensibilisation du public. Les Rotariens ont ainsi alloué plus de 1,2 milliard de dollars et consacré un nombre incalculable d'heures de bénévolat pour lutter contre la polio. La Fondation Gates s'est de son côté engagée à verser le double de la contribution financière du Rotary en faveur de l'éradication de la polio, à hauteur de 35 millions par an et jusqu'en 2018.

À propos du Rotary

Le Rotary est un réseau mondial de 1,2 million de décideurs solidaires qui mettent leurs compétences au service des causes humanitaires les plus pressantes. Les membres des Rotary clubs présents à travers le monde dans 200 pays et territoires travaillent avec détermination pour améliorer le quotidien dans leur ville et à l'étranger, et aider les familles défavorisées. Pour plus d'informations, visiter le site du Rotary. Découvrez l'étude de cas «La Côte d'Ivoire et l'éradication de la polio » ici: http://vimeo.com/84707493.

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Bollettino Stampa

For immediate release

Contatto: Petina Dixon-Jenkins, +1-847-866-3054, petina.dixon-Jenkins@rotary.org

EVANSTON, Ill., USA (18 feb. 2014) — Oggi il Rotary ha annunciato la distribuzione di sovvenzioni per un totale di circa 36 milioni di dollari a sostegno delle attività d'immunizzazione contro la polio e della ricerca svolta dalla Global Polio Eradication Initiative, che mira a eliminare la malattia virale in tutto il mondo entro il 2018.

L'impegno per il finanziamento arriva proprio in un momento critico, mentre l'iniziativa di eradicazione si sta concentrando sull'interruzione della polio nei tre paesi dove il virus rimane endemico: Afghanistan, Nigeria e Pakistan. L'interruzione della polio in questi Paesi è cruciale, per poter interrompere le recenti insorgenze in Paesi dove la malattia era state precedentemente eliminata, e dove le immunizzazioni di massa di bambini con il vaccino orale devono continuare fino all'eradicazione globale della polio.

Le sovvenzioni Rotary includono 6,8 milioni per l'Afghanistan, 7,7 milioni per la Nigeria e 926.000 per il Pakistan. Gli importi per le sovvenzioni si basano sulle richieste dei partner per l'iniziativa di eradicazione, UNICEF e OMS, che collaborano con i governi dei Paesi polio-endemici per pianificare e implementare attività d'immunizzazione.

L'UNICEF utilizzerà una sovvenzione di 2,73 milioni per sostenere attività d'immunizzazione in tutto il Corno d'Africa, nell'ambito della campagna per rispondere all'epidemia cominciata nel 2013 e che, al momento, ha già infettato oltre 200 bambini. I casi cosiddetti ‘importati' si collegano a un ceppo di poliomielite endemica della Nigeria, e sottolineano l'importanza dell'interruzione del virus nei Paesi endemici.

Gli altri Paesi dove saranno usati i fondi sono Burkina Faso (2,1 milioni); Cameroon (3,4 milioni); Repubblica Democratica del Congo (3,9 milioni); Niger (2,3 milioni); Somalia (1,3 milioni); Sud Sudan (2,6 milioni) e Sudan (1,2 milioni).

L'OMS ha anche ricevuto 934.000 dollari per studiare l'impatto dell'introduzione di vaccino anti-polio inattivo e iniettabile nel programma d'immunizzazione, nell'ambito del piano di Spinta finale della GPEI, con l'avvicinarsi dell'obiettivo di eradicazione globale della polio.

Oltre a queste sovvenzioni, il Rotary ha elargito 500.000 dollari a dicembre 2013 come risposta d'emergenza all'epidemia di polio in Siria, che non aveva riportato casi di polio dal 1999. Fino al 31 gennaio, sono stati confermati 23 casi in Siria a partire da ottobre 2013, tutti rintracciabili a un ceppo in circolazione in Pakistan.

Il Rotary ha lanciato il suo programma d'immunizzazione anti-polio, PolioPlus, nel 1985 e nel 1988 è diventato il leader della Global Polio Eradication Initiative con l'OMS, l'UNICEV e i Centri statunitensi per il controllo e la prevenzione delle malattie. Dal lancio dell'iniziativa, nel 1988, i casi di polio sono scesi di oltre il 99 percento, da quasi 350.000 casi all'anno e 400 casi confermati finora per l'anno 2013.

Il Rotary ha il compito principale di raccogliere fondi, fare advocacy e lavorare alla mobilitazione pubblica nell'ambito dell'iniziativa. Ad oggi, il Rotary ha contribuito oltre 1,2 miliardi e innumerevoli ore di volontariato per la lotta alla polio. Fino al 2018, ogni (1) dollaro che il Rotary impegna per l'eradicazione della polio sarà equiparato con due (2) dollari dalla Bill e Melinda Gates Foundation, fino a un importo di 35 milioni di dollari all'anno.

Rotary

Siamo una rete globale di volontari intraprendenti, dediti a risolvere i problemi umanitari più pressanti. Il Rotary connette 1,2 milioni di soci in oltre 34.000 club, in più di 200 Paesi e aree geografiche. Attraverso il loro impegno, i Rotariani migliorano vite a livello locale e internazionale, dalle attività per aiutare le famiglie bisognose all'impegno di liberare il mondo dalla polio. Per maggiori informazioni, visita Rotary.org/it.

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ニュースリリース

For immediate release

問い合わせ先: Petina Dixon-Jenkins, +1-847-866-3054, petina.dixon-Jenkins@rotary.org

国際ロータリー（本部：米国イリノイ州エバンストン、会長：ロン・バートン）は2014年2月18日、世界ポリオ撲滅推進計画（GPEI）におけるポリオ予防接種活動と研究のために、約3,600万米ドル（36億7,200万円）の補助金を提供することを発表しました。GPEIは、2018年までに、全世界でポリオを撲滅することを目標としています。

資金不足が懸念される中、今回の補助金は撲滅活動の推進を大きく後押しするものとなります。特に集中的な撲滅活動が行われているのは、今も常在的に感染が続くアフガニスタン、ナイジェリア、パキスタンの3カ国です。これらのポリオ常在国から既にポリオを撲滅した国へウイルスが再流入する可能性があるため、残る3カ国での撲滅に努めると同時に、ポリオのない国々でも子どもたちへの予防接種を続ける必要があります。

補助金で実現される活動

ロータリーからの補助金はまず、アフガニスタンへ680万ドル、ナイジェリアへ770万ドル、パキスタンへ92万6,000ドル送られます。この配分は、ロータリーとともにGPEIで活動するパートナー、ユニセフと世界保健機関（WHO）からの要請に基づいて算出されたものです。両団体はポリオ感染国の政府と協力し、ポリオ予防接種活動の計画と実施にあたります。

ユニセフはさらに、273万ドルを東アフリカでの予防接種強化に充てます。この地域一帯では2013年からポリオの症例が報告されており、200人以上の子どもの感染が確認されています。今回のポリオ流入はナイジェリアに端を発するものとみられ、残るポリオ常在国でいち早く感染を食い止めることの重要性が改めて認識されています。

ロータリーの補助金は、このほかに、ブルキナファソ（210万ドル）、カメルーン（340万ドル）、コンゴ民主共和国（390万ドル）、ニジェール（230万ドル）、ソマリア（130万ドル）、南スーダン（260万ドル）、スーダン（120万ドル）でも活用される予定です。

WHOは、ロータリーからの補助金93万4,000ドルを研究活動に充て、「ポリオ撲滅・エンドゲーム戦略計画」に沿って、不活化ポリオワクチンの注射を予防接種プログラムに取り入れることの影響について調査します。

ロータリーは、今回の補助金に先立って2013年12月にも、内戦中のシリアでのポリオ発症に緊急対応するため、50万ドルを提供しています。シリアは、1999年以来、ポリオ無発生の国でしたが、2013年10月から23件の発症例が報告されており、そのすべてがパキスタンで発生したウイルスに関連しているとみられています。

ロータリーとポリオ撲滅活動

1985年に「ポリオプラス」というポリオ予防接種プログラムを開始したロータリーは、1988年、WHO、ユニセフ、米国疾病対策センター（CDC）とともに世界ポリオ撲滅推進計画（GPEI）の主要パートナーとなりました。同計画が発足した1988年以来、世界のポリオ発症数は、当初の35万件から2013年の400件までに抑えられ、99パーセント以上減少しました。

GPEIにおけるロータリーの主な役割は、ファンドレイジング（寄付・資金調達）、アドボカシー、ボランティア集め、認識向上といった活動です。ロータリーはこれまでに12億ドル以上を寄付し、無数のボランティア時間をポリオとの闘いに投じてきました。また、ビル＆メリンダ・ゲイツ財団との協力により、2018年までにロータリーが集める寄付（年間最高3,500万ドル）に2倍の額が上乗せされるキャンペーンを実施しており、撲滅に向けた弛まぬ努力が続けられています。

ロータリーについて

私たちロータリーは、世界中にあるロータリークラブでの草の根のネットワークを通じて、それぞれの町で、そして世界で社会に貢献しています。地元の人びとへの支援から、世界でポリオを撲滅する取り組みにいたるまで、さまざまな職業に携わる会員が知恵と力を出しあって活動しています。詳しくはロータリーのウェブサイトをご覧ください<www.rotary.org/ja>。

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보도 자료

For immediate release

연락처: Petina Dixon-Jenkins, +1-847-866-3054, petina.dixon-Jenkins@rotary.org

미국, 일리노이, 에빈스톤 (2014년 2월 18일 ) — 로타리는 최근 소아마비 퇴치를 위한 글로벌 이니셔티브(GPEI)에 면역 활동과 연구 활동을 지원하기 위해 3,600만 달러를 지원한다고 발표했다. 

이같은 기금 지원은 GPEI가 2018년까지 소아마비를 지구 상에서 완전히 퇴치한다는 목표 아래 아프가니스탄, 나이지리아, 파키스탄 등 야생 소아마비 바이러스 토착 발병국가에서의 면역 활동에 박차를 가하고 있는 시점에서 이루어졌다. 이들 토착 발병국가에서의 면역 활동은 과거 소아마비 퇴치국가였으나 최근 바이러스 유입으로 돌발적인 발병 사태를 빚은 인근 국가들의 퇴치 활동에도 매우 중요한 영향을 미친다.      

이번 로타리 보조금에는 아프가니스탄을 위한 680만 달러, 나이지리아를 위한 770만 달러, 그리고 파키스탄을 위한 92만6,000달러가 포함되어 있다. 이 같은 액수는 GPEI 파트너 단체인 세계보건기구 및 유니세프가 소아마비 발병국 정부와의 논의에 따라 요청한 액수에 근거한 것이다.

유니세프는 로타리의 지원액 중 273만 달러를 2013년도에 다시 소아마비가 발병한 ‘아프리카의 뿔’(아프리카 동부 소말리아 반도) 일원의 면역 활동을 강화하는 데 사용할 예정이다. 이 지역은 소아마비 토착 발병국인 나이지리아에서 유입된 바이러스로 인해 소아마비가 재발병, 200여명의 어린이들이 감염된 것으로 밝혀졌으며, 발병국에서의 바이러스 차단이 왜 중요한 지를 다시 한 번 드러내 주는 사례로 꼽히고 있다.    

이밖에도 로타리 지원액은 부르키나 파소(210만 달러), 카메룬(340만 달러), 콩고 민주주의 공화국(390만 달러),니제르(230만 달러),소말리아(130만 달러), 남수단(260만 달러), 수단(120만 달러)등의 면역 활동을 위해 사용된다.  

세계보건기구에는 소아마비 엔드게임 전략의 일환으로 도입된 비활성화 백신의 효과를 조사하기 위한 연구비로 93만4,000달러가 지원된다. 

한편 이번 지원과는 별개로 로타리는 지난 연말 시리아의 돌발적인 발병 사태를 지원하기 위해 50만 달러의 기금을 긴급 지원했다. 시리아의 경우 지난 1999년 이래 소아마비 발병이 보고되지 않았으나, 지난해 10월부터 1월 사이 23건이 보고되었으며, 이는 파키스탄으로부터의 바이러스 유입에 의한 것으로 분석되었다. 

지난 1985년부터 소아마비 퇴치 프로그램인 폴리오플러스를 시작한  로타리는 1988년, 세계보건기구, 유니세프, 미국 질병통제예방센터 등과 함께 소아마비 퇴치를 위한 글로벌 이니셔티브(GPEI)의 주요 파트너가 되었다. GPEI 발족 당시 연간 35만 건을 해아리던 소아마비 발병건수는 99%가 감소되어 2013년 한 해 동안 소아마비 발병건수는 400건을 기록했다. 

동 이니셔티브에서 로타리의 주요 역할은 기금 모금과 각국 정부 및 단체들을 대상으로한 주창활동과 사회적 동원이다. 로타리는 지금까지 12억 달러 이상의 기금을 기부했으며, 수많은 자원 봉사자들이 면역 활동에 참여해 왔다. 아울러 오는 2018년까지 로타리가 소아마비 퇴치를 위해 기부하는 기금은 게이츠 재단으로부터 연간 3,500만 달러까지 1달러 당 2달러의 상응 지원을 받게 된다.   

로타리에 대하여

로타리는 전세계의 시급한 어려움들을 해결하기 위해 노력하는 자원봉사자 리더들이 모인 글로벌 네트워크입니다. 로타리는 전세계 200여 국가와 자치령의 3만4,000개 클럽에서 활동 중인 120만 회원을 연결합니다. 이들은 지역사회의 불우이웃돕기에서부터 국제적인 소아마비 퇴치 노력에 이르기까지 지역적, 그리고 국제적 차원에서 사람들의 삶을 개선해 나갑니다. 자세한 내용은 Rotary.org을 참조하세요.

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News Release

For immediate release

Contato: Petina Dixon-Jenkins, +1-847-866-3054, petina.dixon-Jenkins@rotary.org

EVANSTON, Ill., USA(18 de fevereiro de 2014) — O Rotary anunciou hoje a concessão de quase US$36 milhões em subsídios para apoiar atividades de imunização e de pesquisa realizadas pela Iniciativa Global de Erradicação da Pólio (GPEI), cujo objetivo é erradicar a doença até 2018.

Este compromisso vem em um momento oportuno, pois permitirá que a iniciativa concentre seus esforços nos três países ainda endêmicos: Afeganistão, Nigéria e Paquistão. A interrupção do vírus nestes países é essencial para acabar a recente onda de surtos epidêmicos onde a doença já havia sido erradicada e a vacinação em massa deve continuar até que o vírus seja completamente eliminado.

Os subsídios do Rotary incluem US$6,8 milhões para o Afeganistão, US$7,7 milhões para a Nigéria e US$926.000 para o Paquistão. A destinação dos fundos foi feita com base nas solicitações feitas pelo Unicef e a Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS), parceiros da GPEI que trabalham com os governos dos países afetados na organização das atividades de imunização.

O Unicef também usará US$2,73 milhões para apoiar as atividades de imunização no Chifre da África em resposta à epidemia ocorrida no início de 2013, que já afetou 200 crianças. Estes casos importados de poliomielite estão relacionados à estirpe epidêmica na Nigéria, destacando a importância da extinção do vírus nos três países endêmicos.

O Rotary também destinará US$2,1 milhões à Burkina Faso, US$3,4 milhões ao Camarões, US$3,9 milhões à República Democrática do Congo, US$2,3 milhões ao Níger, US$1,3 milhões à Somália, 2,6 milhões ao Sudão do Sul e US$1,2 milhão ao Sudão.

A OMS também recebeu US$934.000 para estudar o impacto da introdução da vacina antipólio injetável nos programas de vacinação, como parte do Plano Estratégico de Erradicação da Pólio e Reta Final.

Além destes subsídios, em dezembro, o Rotary contribuiu US$500.000 para o trabalho emergencial em resposta ao surto de pólio na Síria, país que não havia relatado nenhum caso da doença desde 1999. De outubro de 2013 a 31 de janeiro de 2014, 23 casos de poliomielite foram confirmados, todos ligados à estirpe que circula no Paquistão.  

O Rotary lançou o Pólio Plus em 1985, e em 1988 se tornou parceiro na Iniciativa Global de Erradicação da Pólio, juntamente com a Organização Mundial de Saúde, o Unicef e o Centro Norte-americano para Controle e Prevenção de Doenças. Desde então, a incidência de pólio caiu em mais de 99%, de mais de 350.000 casos ao ano para apenas 400 casos registrados em 2013.

As principais responsabilidades do Rotary na iniciativa são arrecadação de fundos, defesa da causa e mobilização social. Até hoje, a organização contribuiu US$1,2 bilhão e inúmeras horas de trabalho voluntário para a luta contra esta doença. Até 2018, cada dólar que o Rotary destinar à erradicação da pólio será equiparado na proporção de 2 para 1 pela Fundação Bill e Melinda Gates (até US$35 milhões por ano).

O Rotary

O Rotary é uma rede global de voluntários que se dedicam a enfrentar grandes desafios da humanidade. Seja ajudando famílias menos privilegiadas ou lutando para erradicar a pólio no mundo, seus associados causam mudanças positivas local e internacionalmente. Para mais informações, acesse o site do Rotary.

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News Release

For immediate release

Contact: Petina Dixon-Jenkins, +1-847-866-3054, petina.dixon-Jenkins@rotary.org

EVANSTON, Ill., USA (18 February 2014) — The continued fight to eliminate polio gets an additional $36 million boost from Rotary in support of polio immunization activities and research to be carried out by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which aims to end the disabling viral disease worldwide by 2018.

The funding commitment comes at a critical time as the eradication initiative focuses on stopping polio in the three countries where the virus remains endemic: Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Stopping polio in those countries is crucial in order to halt the recent spate of outbreaks in countries where the disease had previously been beaten and where mass immunizations of children via the oral polio vaccine must continue until global eradication is achieved.

The Rotary grants include $6.8 million for Afghanistan, $7.7 million for Nigeria and $926,000 for Pakistan. Grant amounts are based on requests from eradication initiative partners UNICEF and the World Health Organization, which work with the governments of polio-affected countries to plan and carry out immunization activities.

UNICEF will use a grant of $2.73 million to bolster vaccination activities throughout the Horn of Africa as part of an on-going response to an outbreak that began in 2013 and has now infected more than 200 children. The so-called "imported" cases are linked to the strain of polio endemic to Nigeria, underscoring the need to stop the virus in the endemic countries.

"Now it is of critical importance to get as many children as possible immunized through routine immunization, especially in areas within the Horn of Africa that are not doing so well in that regard," says Joel Lehmann, a Rotary member from Nairobi, Kenya. "As Rotary, we want to find effective ways to eradicate polio worldwide and at the same time, to improve child health in general," Lehmann adds.

The other countries where Rotary funds will be used to fight polio are Burkina Faso, $2.1 million; Cameroon, $3.4 million; Democratic Republic of Congo, $3.9 million; Niger, $2.3 million; Somalia, $1.3 million; South Sudan, $2.6 million; and Sudan, $1.2 million.

WHO also received $934,000 to study the impact of introducing injectable, inactivated polio vaccine into the immunization program as part of the initiative's endgame plan, as the goal of global eradication nears.

Unrelated to this round of grants, Rotary released $500,000 in December 2013 as an emergency response to the polio outbreak in strife-torn Syria, which had not reported polio since 1999. Through Jan. 31, there were 23 confirmed cases in Syria since October 2013, all traceable to the polio strain circulating in Pakistan.

Rotary launched its polio immunization program PolioPlus in 1985 and in 1988 became a spearheading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative with the WHO, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since the initiative launched in 1988, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99 percent, from about 350,000 cases a year to 369 confirmed so far for 2013.

Rotary's main responsibilities within the initiative are fundraising, advocacy, and social mobilization. To date, Rotary has contributed more than $1.2 billion and countless volunteer hours to fight polio. Through 2018, every new dollar Rotary commits to polio eradication will be matched two-to-one by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation up to $35 million a year.

About Rotary

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world's most pressing humanitarian challenges.Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.

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