Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease usually affecting children under 5 years of age for which there is no cure, but there are safe and effective vaccines.
It can be spread person to person, typically through contaminated water. Though the disease is eradicated from most of the countries, it still affects some of the most marginalized sections and poorest people in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.
In spite of the success, if we fail to completely eradicate this highly infectious disease, there is a good possibility of it reappearing in the coming decades.
Therefore the main purpose of World Polio Day in October is to celebrate this great achievement but continue to spread the word, not the disease. However, until we end Polio forever with vaccinations, every child remains at risk.
The Rotary Club in Letterkenny are delighted to be involved in supporting the Polio Campaign and were busy last October planting Purple Crocus corms in Ballymalcool Park adjacent to where the 2017 bulbs were planted near Ballymacool House.
The purple colour is symbolic with the colour of the Polio vaccine used by volunteers, and the Purple Crocus is used by Rotarians worldwide raising awareness on the Rotary fight against Polio.
This work was completed in association with Town Gardener David Donnelly and his staff and thanks to them for their dedication.
The signage is now complete thanks to Joe Bonnar Metalcrafts Ltd for their support in this regard, which was unveiled today 9th April, with Mark Patton, Bonar Metalcrafts in attendance, David Donnelly (Town Gardener) & some of his dedicated crew, as well as Rotary Club President Sharon Black & fellow Rotarians.
It is intended to enlarge the Crocus area on an annual basis, which will remain a symbolic reminder to us all of the ‘End Polio’ campaign for many years to come.
