Elizabeth Birkett visits India to help immunise children against polio

Elizabeth Birkett in India

Elizabeth Birkett recently embarked on a special trip to Dehli, India to help immunise children against polio.

Elizabeth, a Middleton Rotary Club member from Littleborough, joined a group of 106 volunteers from across Great Britain & Ireland, the largest to have ever travelled, and also met up with other Rotary International members from Belgium, Luxemburg, USA and Japan to help with the immunisation of children across the country.

Although the country was declared free from the disease in 2014, there is still the real risk of re-infection from the cases found in nearby Pakistan and therefore it is essential that high levels of immunisation are maintained.

Elizabeth, who travelled to India with the project for the first time, said: “It is incredible to think that since making the pledge in 1985 to eradicate polio, Rotarians have pulled together to combat the disease all over the world. Travelling to India and working with fellow Rotarians illustrates how important it is to be involved in community projects that are not just on your doorstep.”

The aim of this year’s National Immunisation Day was to vaccinate over 172 million children under the age of five, nearly three times the size of the UK population. In order to do so, the Rotary office in Delhi allocated five locations where the International Rotarian volunteers were placed to assist the local Rotary members, namely Delhi, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Bhidawi and Karnal.

The immunisation, which is administered by two simple drops on the tongue, can be carried out easily by someone with no medical experience, and is crucial to keeping polio at bay.

Rotary hopes to continue to send out volunteers in the coming years, until this type of immunisation is replaced with an injection, a procedure that would require medically trained personnel.

Elizabeth added: “It’s important that we don’t lose momentum if we are going to beat this disease and the large group of Rotarians travelling out this year illustrates that we are still as passionate as ever. If you want to make a difference, you could join your local Rotary club or donate.”