Not much different than here in the US...
Heck, not much different than here on FR...
I believe the public health measure that has saved the most lives was chlorination of the water supply.
Someone once said that the height of a civilization can be measured by the quality of their water and sanitation systems.
My viewpoint in favor of immunization is skewed because I was born with an immune deficiency. I have survived to vote in 2000 and 2004 because of advances in antibiotics and immunization.
Sounds like Ninth Ward RATS.
Ping
Rotary International (private non profit organization)and over 1.2 million Rotarians contributed over $ 650 million to plan, organize, lead and implement a plan to eliminate polio.
Rotary is the leading non-governmental contributor. Whenever possible, most of the polio eradication costs are borne by the polio-endemic countries themselves. However, as the battle against polio is taken to the poorest, least-developed nations on earth, and those in the midst of civil conflict, up to 100 percent of the NID and other polio eradication costs must be met by external donor sources.
A statement on the importations of the poliovirus:
In 2003-05, there were over 1,300 cases of paralytic polio following importations of wild poliovirus into 21 previously polio-free countries. Of these countries, eight continue to have active transmission of imported polioviruses, including the recently endemic
country Niger, as well as Indonesia, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Angola, Nepal and Chad.
A statement on instances of vaccine-derived polio:
Between 2004 and 2005 there were six episodes of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus resulting in approximately 60 polio cases in the Island of Hispaniola (which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Indonesia, the Philippines, Madagascar, and China. The vaccine-derived virus detected in Minnesota, USA in 2005 did not result in any cases of paralytic polio.
21. A statement on the Vitamin A distribution during polio National Immunization Days:
Since 1998, the inclusion of Vitamin A supplements on NIDs has averted an estimated 1.25 million childhood deaths.
Here is What Rotary says about its eradication:
There are significant reasons to be optimistic about achieving our goal of global polio eradication by the end of this year.
1. The number of polio cases has been reduced by a projected 99 percent since Rotary and partner agencies formed the global polio eradication initiative from 350,000 in 1988 to fewer than 1300 in 2004.
2. Three of six regions of the world are free of the wild poliovirus.
3. Despite intensive surveillance efforts, one of the three types of viruses (Type II) that cause polio has not been seen since 1999. Could it be that it has already been eradicated? The World Health Organization will continue to promote active surveillance to determine this possibility.
Nevertheless, significant challenges lie ahead, including immunizing all children even those in remote, conflict areas maintaining political commitment to polio eradication.
Given the tremendous progress so far achieved, the prospects of achieving global polio eradication are high. Rotary looks forward to providing all children with a permanent gift a world free of polio.
For more statistical information on polio eradication, download Rotary's Facts and Figures and visit the World Health Organization's polio eradication Web site. For other questions or program updates, contact PolioPlus staff.
http://www.rotary.org/foundation/polioplus/index.html
A statement on estimated annual global savings after cessation of immunization:
Once polio has been eradicated, the world will reap substantial financial, as well as humanitarian, dividends due to foregone polio treatment and rehabilitation costs. Depending on national decisions on the future use of polio vaccines, these savings could exceed US$1 billion per year.