Schools support World Polio Day 24 October 2013

Thursday 24 October 2013 was World Polio Day.   The primary aim of World Polio Day is fund raising and awareness, but it’s also an opportunity for young people to learn:

• History.  The history of medicine and campaigns against disease reflects the history of social change and the emergence of the modern world. 
• Science.  The science of vaccination is a fascinating subject for all ages – perhaps starting with Edward Jenner in the 1790’s and the first discovery of this most vital of medical principles.
• Geography.  A discussion about vaccination in terms of geographical, religious and economic differences would help to place in context different cultural approaches to medicine.

 

The Principals of our Otahuhu Primary Schools were approached to see if they would like to participate in celebrating this day with wearing an article of purple clothing with a coin donation.

The significance of the purple clothing relates to the fact that when children get immunised en masse against Polio their pinky finger is dunked in a purple dye to indicate that they have been vaccinated.

The schools thought it was a great idea and it was decided to celebrate the day on Friday 25 October.

Emphasis was placed on the fact that every dollar donated would be matched by $2 by the Bill Gates Foundation.

The schools Fairburn Road, St Josephs, Otahuhu Primary, Panama Road and Otahuhu Intermediate are all low decile  schools which makes their efforts outstanding.   The total raised by our schools was $1500.00.

"Even though we are a decile 1 school I think it is important that our children know that there are always others worse off and that they can give too." 

Ironically we had cross country on the same day and we could celebrate our running skills and think of those unable to do so."    Colleen Margison, Principal Panama Road School