Red Cross Red Crescent joins fight to end polio
27 September 2000

Today, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement pledged its support in the fight to free the world of polio by 2005, as it launched an appeal seeking 8 million Swiss francs to assist 14 million people living in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. The appeal is a part of a major five-year global eradication plan against the illness - inaugurated today in New York by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement said that the mobilization of 85,000 of its' volunteers - a part of the world's biggest humanitarian network - would play a key role in the initiative against the disease which kills or cripples children. Immunization of children under five protects them for life - and the Red Cross Red Crescent's ability to help children living in areas beyond the reach of other organizations, is a central part of the initiative.

The Movement, which comprises the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as well as 176 National Societies, has been working to eradicate polio for years, but this latest initiative represents a final push to wipe out the disease.

The strengths of each part of the Movement will be utilised in the campaign. National Societies and their volunteers will work to ensure high rates of polio vaccination during National Immunization Days through community awareness and social mobilization. The Federation will play a vital role in supporting this work. The ICRC, meanwhile, will work with National Societies and other partners to access children in areas, particularly conflict zones, where governments and United Nations organizations are unable to work during immunization campaigns.

In 1988, the polio virus existed in over 125 countries in five continents, but by the end of 1999, polio was only present in 30 countries, all in Asia and Africa. Janet Davidson, Vice President of the International Federation, reaffirmed the Red Cross Movement's commitment to ensure the world is soon polio free.

"We have the opportunity and the obligation to eradicate polio," Davidson said. "Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies and its network of volunteers are working in all of the polio endemic countries. With full support, they can clearly make a major contribution to the 'end game' of polio eradication."

Today's Global Polio Partners Summit at the United Nations, in New York, launched the polio eradication initiative, which is led by the World Health Organisation, in partnership with Rotary International, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United Nations Children's Fund as well as the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

New York: Encho Gospodinov, Head of Delegation,
(+1)(212)338 0161/(+1)646-623-1303
Geneva: Solveig Olafsdottir, Information Office
(+41)(22)730 4296/(41)79-217 3372

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.