Rotary holds Purple Pinky street appeal

The Matamata community has been a generous supporter of Rotary International’s polio eradication programme.

Its appeal Purple Pinkie Day was held last Friday raising $367.30 locally, and is tripled by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, making $1,101.90 go directly to polio eradication.

In developing countries polio drops are delivered to children under five-years-old in many settings.

Rotary Matamata president Michelle Tanner visited Pakistan in 2014 where she vaccinated children in schools, hospitals, slums and even at the zoo.

She says that with no record keeping, the child’s little finger (pinkie) is instead marked with purple ink which lasts for one month and ensures they do not receive more drops in that time.

Hence Purple Pinkie Day was born.

Tanner says this final push is one of the most expensive parts of the campaign and complacency is a risk.

Tanner says she is grateful to Matamata for its generous support. If anyone would like more information on Rotary please visit the site