"We'll steal the best ideas from anyone."

Thank you Fidel and Chinese Communists

Back in 1962 Fidel Castro ordered what may have been the first vaccination day for an entire nation. They vaccinated for polio. Lo and behold, polio rates went to zero, with a little mop up. There are virtues to governments that can order everyone out on a given day, especially when it is to do something that is good for them.

The south of Communist China had long suffered from malaria. In the early 1990's the government strongly suggested that people sleep under mosquito nets treated with insecticides. Between that and screening for malaria, they essentially removed malaria from the area.

The Vietnamese have cut malaria rates dramatically, in part because health officials retreat nets with insecticide for free.

Now largely capitalist Rotarians use the methods, adapted, of course, to deliver polio vaccine (and now for nets and insecticides) to whole populations at one time. Outsiders might feel that Rotarians would be horrified at using 'Communist' methods. Most Rotarians, however, chuckle and say, "Whatever works! We'll steal the best ideas from anyone."