Kick Polio out of Africa (KPOA)

In the context of the attention and energy that was garnered by the FIFA sporting event, KPOA used the medium of soccer and youth - who are most vulnerable to the virus - to promote the efforts of RI and its global partners in its final thrust to "kick polio out of Africa" and the world.

The launch of the campaign involved a lighting event at the V&A Waterfront (amphitheatre) in Cape Town, South Africa. The Old Port Captain's Building was illuminated, shining a light on eradicating polio. Polio survivor Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was the first person to sign the ball, which is symbolic of the polio virus. The ball then travelled through 23 polio-affected countries in Africa with dignitaries signing it along the way. The journey to the Montreal RI convention exited the African continent through Cairo, Egypt, where the Pyramid of Khafre provided a backdrop for the message "End Polio Now". Egyptian National footballer Islam El-Shater kicked the ball toward the Mediterranean Sea - symbolically kicking polio out of the continent. These events mapped the start and finish of the campaign on the continent - from the Cape to Cairo.

A virtual version of the ball was launched in May 2010 and, as of September 17 2010, had gathered nearly 10,911 online signatures. After the 2010 World Cup, the signatures were formally presented to the other spearheading partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

For more about this initiative, consult the KPOA website.

Immunisation and Vaccines.