Inverness Rotarians play part in helping wipe out Africa polio
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AN Inverness humanitarian group is celebrating playing its small part in eradicating wild polio from the continent of Africa.
The Rotary Club of Inverness Loch Ness (RCILN) has long worked with other Rotary International branches in the fight against the debilitating illness which mainly affects children and can cause paralysis and even death.
In a significant global public health achievement, Africa has been declared wild poliovirus-free after a long programme of vaccination. No new cases have been recorded since 2016, although other strains of the disease persist.
Since Rotary International first pledged to rid the world of polio more than 30 years ago, RCILN has made financial contributions of over £3000 to the cause, raising awareness through the planting and sale of purple crocuses locally and lighting up Ness Bridge in purple on World Polio Day.
Certification comes four years after Nigeria, the last polio-endemic country in Africa, recorded its final case of wild polio. The World Health Organisation estimates 90 per cent of the world’s population is now free from polio. Globally, more than 2.5 billion children have been protected against the disease in 125 countries.
“This is a terrific landmark in the world’s battle to eradicate polio,” RCILN president Bryan Smith said. “Although it has been many years since polio has been present in the UK and Ireland, we are proud to have contributed to global efforts to eliminate the disease for good.
“We remain committed to making the final steps towards making a polio-free world a reality. If we don’t finish the job, within 10 years, as many as 200,000 children annually could succumb. The virus is literally a plane trip away. Vaccination is so important.”
