Downshire pupils in purple for Polio campaign
Pupils at Downshire Primary school dressed in Purple recently to support the Thanks for Life--..End Polio Now campaign that plans to totally eradicate Polio the world over.
PUPILS at Downshire Primary School dressed in Purple recently to support the Thanks for Life....End Polio Now campaign that plans to totally eradicate Polio the world over.
Pupils were asked to donate £1 by Lagan Valley Rotary Club and as a result President Ian Hulatt was presented with a cheque for £528.
Members of the club went into the school to give an update on the current polio situation and the continuing efforts to eradicate the disease. During their presentation they told the children about the four remaining countries that still have cases of Polio today using the acronym PAIN to help remember the affected countries; Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria.
February 23 marked the anniversary of the Worldwide Campaign championed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Rotary International, Thanks for Life End Polio Now.
The project, now in its third decade, has managed to reduce the number of countries affected from 125 to just four. The children in these last remaining countries receive the polio drops and then have their pinkie finger painted purple to establish who has already received the vaccine.
Three decades ago, India had more than 38,000 cases of polio. In 2010, the number of polio cases dropped to just 42.
Last year the campaign raised over £1 million, involved thousands of schools around the country and most of the 1,850 Rotary clubs across Britain and Ireland. It is hoped that to exceed last year's efforts and continue to vaccinate children until Polio has been eradicated. For more information go to www.ribi.org/thanks-for-life. If you would like to get involved and support international projects and local charities come along to the Rotary Club of Lagan Valley at Downshire Tennis Club on a Tuesday at 8pm. Visit their website www.laganvalleyrotary.org and discover how to make a difference.
Ulster Star
11/03/2011
