Opinion

An important milestone in world health

Posted January 24, 2012 4:00 am

It is a wonderful time for global health. Friday, Jan. 13, marked not bad luck, fear or superstition, but a significant milestone in the fight against polio. The day marked an entire year in which India has not seen a single case of polio. This means that India is no longer considered an endemic country, leaving only three countries in the world — Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria — with that status.

India was considered one of the most difficult places in the world to fight polio, but thanks to strategic partnerships, innovation and leadership, we are celebrating this great success. Evanston-based Rotary International have played a tremendous role in this global effort. They, along with the U.N., the Gates Foundation, the ONE Campaign, and others have ensured that polio remains a health care priority and vaccines are distributed and administered even in the most remote areas around the world.

Thank you to all for their continued efforts. We are 99 percent done. Three more countries to go and we can declare ourselves winners.

Tzviatko Chiderov

Glenview

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