Barrington Breakfast Rotary Sponsors Polio Education for the Youth

In 1985 350,000 cases of polio were occurring world wide. With the Rotary's vaccination initiative, the Gates Foundation 2 to 1 matching of Rotary fundraising efforts, the help of world governments, local community medical staff and volunteers, outbreaks have been reduced to 20-25 cases annually.

Thanks to the collaboration of District 220 and health and science teacher Chris Stec, this presentation was incorporated into the classroom schedule for the day. A highlight of the program was the "live" exhibit of an actual iron lung housed in a mobile trailer outside the classroom. This "lung" provided care for polio victims for approximately 25 years, and was their last hope for survival in those cases that included chest wall muscle paralysis.

The last major U.S. polio epidemic occurred in 1952 with 57,000 cases and 3000 deaths. Rotary's goal is total polio eradication.