INDIA has a population of 1.25 billion people and, with its splendid history, culture and diversity, is a magnet for tourists. Yet there lurks beneath the surface a darker side of poverty and polio. Fear of the polio virus brings dread to families when children display the early signs of the disease.

Overcoming suspicion, hostility and superstition, teams of volunteers have worked tirelessly over many years to eradicate the virus. This has been achieved worldwide, with only Afghanistan and bordering Pakistan (with only a handful of cases reported) not polio free. In the battle to defeat it, Rotarians from clubs around the globe in late January joined forces with health workers to vaccinate every child in India. Immunisation now takes the form of drops given orally to all children under the age of five and Jan Long from Ledbury Rotary had the opportunity to join teams from other countries to work in the capital, Delhi.

The programme of work began at 8am each day. The first event, following a briefing, was a visit to a school whose 800 pupils took part in a colourful parade and rally to herald the arrival of the immunisation teams and raise awareness of the National Immunisation Project. Small booths set up around the poorest areas attracted families, with children lining up for their life-saving drops.

The visits took the team to the Rotary Foundation-endowed St Stephen's Hospital. The team donated cash from their Rotary Clubs toward the cost of equipment needed to help straighten malformed spines and a visit to a Rotary funded diabetes hospital was of great interest in view of Ledbury Rotary's Diabetic footcare programme. At a school for less privileged children the visitors witnessed at first hand children eager to be educated, and hospitals and polio immunisation booths where the people desperately wanted to rid their country of the virus.

Jan would like to extend her thanks to all the people who gave books, crayons, soaps and other gifts to pass on to the children she encountered on her week long trip.