Planting Of Crocus Bulbs To Help Tackle Polio

Wed, 03 Nov 2010

Hundreds of crocuses will be planted across the UK this week as part of a worldwide campaign to wipeout polio .

Focus on the Crocus is being run by Rotary International, which is supported by billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates .

As part of the project, local Rotary Clubs been asked to buy and plant purple crocus bulbs across the UK this autumn.

The purple flowers, which are expected to bloom by Rotary Day on February 23, represent the colour of ink dabbed on a child's finger to indicate they have been immunised against polio .

Rotary International hopes to raise $200 million in total from the campaign, which together with the $355 million pledged from the Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation, will fund a huge vaccination programme aimed at eradicating the disease completely by 2012.

Polio used to affect hundreds of thousands of children each year all over the world, but it is now only common in four countries – India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Although the disease is incurable, it is easy to prevent. A child can be vaccinated for just 50p, protecting it against the debilitating disease for life.
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