Government House backs efforts to eradicate polio.

Sunday 25 February 2018

Local Rotary clubs have joined forces with Guernsey's Government House to highlight the ongoing worldwide campaign to bring an end to the suffering caused by polio.

The Rotary Club of Guernsey and Rotary Guernesiais were at a reception hosted by the Lieutenant Governor and Lady Corder on Friday 23 February, which focused on the "Purple4Polio campaign" which has already saved more than 16 million children worldwide from the "crippling and sometimes fatal disease."

The guests, who included the Deputy Bailiff Mr Richard McMahon, were updated on Rotary’s polio eradication campaign which involves vaccinating children in poorer countries. Those children have indelible purple ink painted on their little finger nail on their left hand so they can be instantly recognised. Any child who doesn't have this distinguishing mark is then vaccinated during subsequent programmes.

To mark the occasion, which also coincided with World Rotary Day, Government House was illuminated in purple to keep with the colour theme of the vaccination campaign.

Lady Corder is patron of Rotary Guernesiais while her husband, the Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey, Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder, is an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Guernsey. His Excellency commented: "Rotary is working very hard in the Bailiwick, throughout Britain and Ireland and internationally to end polio once and for all, and we are delighted to help highlight the important part that Guernsey continues to play in the battle to beat this disease, for which there is still no cure."

The President of the Rotary Club of Guernsey Simon Milsted paid tribute to the contribution made by Government House saying: "On behalf of both local Rotary clubs, I’d like to thank Sir Ian and Lady Corder for their continued support of Rotary's charitable work. Tonight was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate both Rotary’s work to end polio and the many other projects we do at home and abroad.  It’s very much appreciated and makes such a difference in helping us to gain public recognition and support for the work of the two local clubs."                                                 

Mr Milsted added: "Our thanks also go to the entire team at Government House, who clearly threw all their energy into this task."