Over 100 million Birr is allotted to the execution of the campaign to be carried out during 18-21 Oct. 2007.

Tremendous progress has been made toward ending polio worldwide. Polio cases have been slashed by 99 percent over the past two decades.

Ethiopia recorded 22 polio cases in 2005 and 17 cases in 2006 but no case is so far recorded in the year 2007. However, vigilant surveillance remains critical to make the nation a polio free country.

Some 15 million children below five years of age are expected to receive the anti-polio immunization to be carried out on house-to-house bases.

Some 120,000 volunteers, 16,000 health professionals and support staff members are expected to take part in the campaign.

Polio Committee Chairperson with Rotary Club, Nahusenay Araya said his organization has contributed 620 million US dollars to polo eradication worldwide out of which 7.7 million US dollars was channeled to Ethiopia for the same cause.

Volunteers’ group leader, Ezra Teshome who resides in US said, “I can think of no better way to celebrate the new millennium rather than by serving the people of my former homeland”.

“This historic opportunity to end polio in Ethiopia and worldwide is within reach. We will remain committed until every child is protected against the devastating consequences of this disease.”

The volunteers are already dispatched to Harar, Gondar, Bahir Dar, Adama, Woliso, Ambo, Dire Dawa, Shasemene towns of the nation to assist the immunization campaign along with health workers and WHO.

Over 100 million Birr is allotted for the execution of the campaign. European Commission mobilizing the 63 million Birr of the stated sum.

UN agencies and donors including WHO, UNICEF, Japan International Cooperation Agency, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention are assisting the campaign in different forms.

Rotary Club, which has some 1.2 million members worldwide, aims at providing humanitarian services and helping build goodwill and peace in the world.

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