Council shines a light for World Polio Day

Rotary Great Britain and Ireland's Purple 4 Polio campaign raises awareness and funds for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which has worked for more than 30 years to protect the world from the life-threatening virus.

The initiative - a partnership led by national governments and core partners, including Rotary International and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) - has helped reduce cases of polio by 99.9 per cent since 1988, vaccinating more than 2.5 billion children around the world.

But the initiative's ultimate aim of eradicating polio relies on immunisation programmes reaching all corners of every country across the globe to stop transmission of the virus.

Rotary Great Britain and Ireland adopted the colour purple to symbolise its pledge to end polio as children have purple die painted on a finger to confirm vaccination at mass immunisation events.

Purple 4 Polio events to mark World Polio Day include illuminating buildings and landmarks, planting purple crocuses and fund-raising 'fill your plate for polio' food and drink parties.

To find out more about the campaign to end polio and support its work, visit www.endpolio.org

Cllr Derek Poole, deputy leader of Rugby Borough Council, said: "The success of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has meant the world now has a real opportunity to end polio, a public health feat only achieved once before with the mass immunisation programme which eradicated smallpox nearly half a century ago.

"It's vital we seize this opportunity and carry on supporting the GPEI's work, raising awareness and funds to mark World Polio Day and help the initiative achieve its ultimate aim."