Members of the Rotary Club of St Andrews have spoken of their pride after helping to bring about a major public health achievement.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has just certified that its Africa region is free from polio after Nigeria recorded its last case four years ago.
It comes after decades of Rotary Clubs across the country campaigning and raising funds for the cause.
Rotary has contributed millions of pounds towards ending polio since 1985, including £50,000 from the Rotary Club of St Andrews.
Two St Andrews members also recently spent a week in rural India to administer the vaccine to local children as part of the End Polio Now campaign.
Club president Hamish Tait said: “This is a terrific landmark in the world’s battle to eradicate polio.
“Although it has been many years since polio has been present in the UK and Ireland, we are proud to have contributed to the global effort to eliminate the disease for good.”
With the virus still circulating in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, Mr Tait says the club remains focused on continuing its work.
“If we don’t finish the job, it is estimated that, within 10 years, as many as 200,000 children annually could succumb to polio, including here in the UK,” he said.
“The virus can literally be a plane ride away, so vaccination is vital, to protect every last child and prevent any return of the disease by keeping immunity levels high.”
In addition to the fundraising work, St Andrews Rotary Club plants purple crocuses in the town to raise awareness of the End Polio Now campaign each year on October 24.
That represents the purple dye marked on the little fingers of people who are inoculated.
