In third world countries where the general population is not always able to read or write, it is important to be able to confirm that all children in a village have been vaccinated.

By dipping the small finger in some purple dye which lasts for a while, the medical volunteers are able to check if the vaccine has been administered. Volunteers visit every house and school sometimes several times to track down missing persons to make sure absolutely every child has been treated. The virus which is contagious and causes paralysis and often death can only be contained if all children are vaccinated at the same period in each village.

So Rotary, who have been striving since 1985 to eradicate polio worldwide, publicise their fund-raising campaign by the theme Purple4Polio.

In Narberth and Whitland Rotary, president Elaine Bradbury has personally offered her thanks by this press release to the eight businesses which took part in the High Street, Narberth.

They were: The Welsh Collection; The Wheatsheaf Gallery, Next Door florists; FBM Estate Agents; No.47, The Happy Planet, No. 6 and Andrew Price.

Two others, the Plas Hotel and the Queen’s Hall set a fine example during the past two years and once again they joined in willingly to support the cause.

Organiser for the local campaign, Rotarian Nigel Towns and members of his foundation committee, stressed: “We’ve made incredible progress towards eradicating polio. But we need to work together to get the job done”.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are now the only two countries where wild poliovirus cases are being reported, and the length of the border between those countries is the inspiration behind a new annual Purple4Polio fundraising activity to help Rotary End Polio Now