[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 140 (Thursday, October 8, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     U.S. ROLE IN ERADICATING POLIO

 Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, there are fewer than 800 days left 
before we reach the goal of eliminating polio throughout the world by 
the end of the year 2000. That victory will mark the second time in 
history we have been able to eradicate an infectious disease. The first 
was the eradication of smallpox, a disease that claimed millions of 
lives through the centuries. As recently as the 1950's, smallpox was 
killing over 2 million people each year, despite the fact that an 
effective vaccine for the disease had been in use since 1796. Smallpox 
eradication began in 1967. The campaign required 11 years to complete 
and cost nearly $300 million--$200 million from countries with endemic 
smallpox and an additional $100 million from international donors. The 
U.S. was the largest international contributor with a total investment 
of $32 million. And that investment has repaid itself many times over. 
Beyond the humanitarian benefits of eliminating this vicious killer, we 
have enjoyed tremendous economic benefits. The U.S. alone has recouped 
the equivalent of its entire investment every 26 days since the disease 
was eradicated.
  The polio effort began in 1988 when the World Health Assembly 
endorsed the program and set the year 2000 as the target date for 
global eradication. Thus far, the campaign has been a dramatic success 
story. Today, four out of every five of the world's children receive 
polio vaccine. Over the past ten years, polio cases have been reduced 
by over 90 percent and today more than 150 nations report no polio. All 
countries in the Western Hemisphere have been polio-free since 1991, 
and all countries in Europe and the Western Pacific Region--including 
China, Vietnam and Cambodia--have been polio free for one or more 
years.
  In my view, the program's achievements are the result of a model 
public-private partnership. Rotary International began working on 
immunization programs in the early 1980's and when the World Health 
Assembly endorsed the polio eradication program in 1988, Rotary became 
the primary private-sector partner in the campaign. We estimate that 
Rotary International will have contributed $450 million by the end of 
the year 2000--the largest private contribution to a public health 
initiative in history.
  In a combined effort with the health ministries in each country, 
Rotary, UNICEF, WHO and CDC have mobilized thousands of volunteers to 
recruit, educate, transport and vaccinate children in a mass campaign 
strategy. The scope of the program is enormous. In 1997 alone, more 
than 450 million children in 80 countries were vaccinated against polio 
through the use of mass campaigns. And the partners have enjoyed 
unparalleled success in densely populated areas where the risk of 
disease has been high. During India's first campaign in 1996, more than 
87 million children were vaccinated by 100,000 volunteers over a three-
day period.
  The last frontier for the program is Africa, where the polio campaign 
faces formidable challenges. Efforts there have been hindered by 
poverty, civil conflicts and logistical problems in vaccine delivery. 
Even with these barriers, the program has enjoyed significant success 
in many areas of the continent. National Immunization Days have been 
conducted in over 35 African countries and have put a real dent in the 
number of polio cases.
  Experts in the field, including my wife Betty who participated in a 
mass campaign in West Africa earlier this year, have all returned with 
the same message--We can win the war against polio and Africa can put 
us over the top by the year 2000, but only if we intensify our efforts 
in Africa over the next two years. This means more funding from all the 
donors and more logistical support for programs that are conducted in 
countries racked by civil conflict and supply shortages.
  As was the case with smallpox, the rewards will far exceed the costs. 
The U.S. alone will reap annual savings of over $230 million and 
worldwide savings will exceed $1.5 billion each year. More importantly, 
we will have conquered a disease responsible for crippling millions of 
children over our history. Finally, we will have set the stage for our 
next campaign--the eradication of measles. Regional efforts to 
eliminate measles have already begun and an international effort is on 
the horizon. Historically, measles has killed more children than any 
other infectious disease. Even today, it is responsible for one out of 
every 10 deaths in children under age 5. Many leaders in the public 
health field believe that we should begin planning an international 
strategy over the next two years so that resources can be easily 
shifted from the polio effort to a measles campaign once polio is 
eradicated.
  I would like to conclude by paraphrasing the testimony of several 
witnesses at a recent Appropriations Committee hearing on measles and 
polio eradication. We live in a time when government and politicians 
are the targets of great criticism. At the same time, there are few 
instances of social justice by groups other than government. No social 
club, no church group, no other organization represents all of us. Only 
government does that.
  Our immunization successes in this country have resulted from 
government at its best--government was an aim to protect every child 
individually and society collectively. It is the product of politics at 
its best.
  Likewise, while the U.S. effort to support smallpox eradication, 
polio eradication, child health and child immunization is a consequence 
of enlightened self interest, it also expresses our understanding, as 
Americans, of a responsibility to the world and to the future. It is 
the U.S. government at its very best.

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