Coca-Cola India has committed to use its extensive distribution network to provide resources and expertise in three critical areas-publicity, community mobilisation and volunteers-as part of Rotary International's support for the immunisation drive.

``The large-scale polio eradication initiative by the government has achieved tremendous success to date, halving the number of polio cases between 1998 and 1999,'' said Alex von Behr, president and CEO of Coca-Cola India. "Yet there were still 2,817 cases of polio in the country last year, and through our partnership with Rotary International we are determined to play our part in eradicating this terrible disease from the country.''

Coca-Cola India's commitment will greatly help in enhancing the awareness levels, especially in the rural areas as well as encouraging local communities to get their children immunised-factors that are critical to the success of the programme, pointed out 0 P Vaish, the director of Rotary International. He added, "This time four Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation (IPPI) Days will be held between September and January.

The programme will begin in the high-risk areas and culminate with two National Immunisation Days (NlDs) in the months of December and January. During each of the two NlDs, over 140 million children will receive oral polio vaccine.''

Last year, more than 2.5 million polio workers/volunteers played a direct, hands-on role during each countrywide NID. An almost equal number of people provided back-up and indirect support in programme logistics. A key strategy for IPPI 2000-2001 is to substantially increase the number of front-end workers to ensure that every child is reached.

Coca-Cola India's support to the Pulse Polio programme will consist of raising awareness through outdoor advertising in the form of hoardings, banners and posters, public announcements on the company's distribution vehicles and providing employee volunteers at vaccination centers and for mobilising communities.

``Instead of just handing over a cheque, we wanted to be involved at the grassroot levels to help the government deal with this health project,'' Behr said.