Robert A. Keely

November 1, 2011

The end of a dread childhood disease, infantile paralysis, is in sight, Bob Keely told Putnam Rotarians at their noon luncheon meeting today.

The disease usually attacks children and sometimes leads to irreversible paralysis. Many of the victims die when the paralysis reaches the diaphragm breathing muscles.

For over 75 years now, Rotary has been involved in prevention and care for victims of infantile paralysis, otherwise known as poliomyelitis. In the 1930s, a standing committee was formed to oversee care of polio victims. In the 1940s, Rotary Foundation gave grants to the March of Dimes campaign.

In 1954, the first successful vaccine against the disease was developed and the focus moved from rehabilitation to prevention and eradication..

The Rotary Foundation made a 3-H (health, hunger and humanity) grant to the Philippines in 1979 which funded immunizations for six million children.

Because of the success in the Philippines, Rotary adopted the Polio-Plus project in 1985. (The "plus" represents addition of vitamin A to the vaccine which helps prolong its effectiveness.)

Joining the fight against polio were some strong partners including the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Fund, from the original United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund).

With its End Polio Now campaign, Rotary is raising $200 million to match $355 million in challenge grants received from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The resulting $555 million will directly support immunization campaigns in developing countries, where polio continues to infect and paralyze children.

"As of October 17, 2011, Rotary had reached $196 million toward the $200 million goal," said Keely.

More than one million Rotarians have volunteered their time and personal resources to protect more than two billion.children in 122 countries from polio.

"In 1985, there were over 350,000 cases a year in over 125 countries," said Keely. "In 2010, there were 635 cases, over a 99 percent reduction."

150 countries are now polio-free. The last reported case in the Americas was in 1991.

"Four countries remain endemic with polio cases," said Keely, "Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria.

"The end is in sight," Keely reported, "but there is still work to be done."

Money will be needed for at least three years after the last case of polio is reported to continue a surveillance process".

Putnam Rotary has donated $2,000 last year, and again this year, to the Rotary Foundation for its Polio-Plus project.

Bob Keely has worn many hats in Rotary community service. He's president of the Putnam club for 2011-12. He is chair of the Rotary strategic plan for southern West Virginia (RI District 7550). He is a graduate of the Rotary Leadership Institute. He is a Paul Harris Fellow twice over.

Bob and spouse Mary were designated as Putnam's "dynamic duo" as Rotarians-of-the-Year in 2005.

Put perhaps his most difficult -- and pleasurable -- chore was chief-of-staff for the District Governor last year. "it was a job that took creativity, patience, dedication and tenacity," said Keely.

By the way, the District Governor was his spouse, Mary E. Keely