Crocus are a sign of the Rotary organisation's fight against polio
Despite a wet February the purple crocuses planted by the Oswestry Cambrian Rotary on the roundabout outside of the main entrance to the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital, have become a welcome sight in difficult times. Oswestry's Rotary clubs, along with other clubs across the UK have been planting purple crocuses each October in preparation for the spring.
The purple crocus is a symbol of Rotary International’s fight to eradicate polio throughout the world. To show children have taken part in the immunisation programme, they have their little finger dipped in purple dye.
Rotary, working with the United Nations and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the last 27years, has succeeded in making the world more than 99% polio free.
Mike Lade from the Oswestry Cambrian Club said there were still some cases reported by the World Health each year.
"This shows the need to redouble efforts to help Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria to retain strong immunisation coverage and hopefully, to rid the world of this highly infectious and disabling disease which can be fatal. The world must be free of Polio for three clear years before the work is done," he said.
The Oswestry Cambrian club welcomes men and women of 18+ from the local community who want to be “people of action”. For more information contact Mike Lade on 01691 570917, email
info@oswestrycambrianrc.co.uk or see oswestrycambrianrc.co.uk.
