Ending Polio in the World

Local residents may have noticed that the purple crocuses planted by Watton Rotary Club on the new island on Thetford Road are in bloom again.

The colour purple is special to Rotary International and all Rotary clubs worldwide as it is the colour of the dye used to mark the little finger of all children vaccinated worldwide to prevent polio.

Our End Polio Now campaign to eradicate polio began in 1985 when polio was endemic in 125 countries. In 1995 the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged to add £2 to every £1 raised by Rotary Clubs around the world. Millions of children have been vaccinated worldwide since then, with the result that polio is now endemic in only 2 countries, and is close to being eliminated completely.

Watton Rotary Club have been actively involved in this campaign over many years, and have raised approx £10,000 towards End Polio Now.

The purple crocus represents to Rotarians the dyed fingers of vaccinated children, who are now safe from this terrible disease.