Last month, members of the Rotary Club of Retford visited Aquabox at its site in Wirksworth. Aquabox is a charitable organisation dedicated to ensuring access to safe drinking water. Through their cutting-edge filtration units, they provide an innovative solution that delivers clean and safe drinking water instantly. The filters used are based on sub-micron membranes, which are impenetrable to bacteria and viruses such as typhoid, cholera and dysentery. With a simple daily back flush, the filters can last for many years, making them a durable and reliable resource in communities most in need.
Since its inception, Aquabox has sent more than 125,000 filters to over 50 countries, including Ukraine, Nepal, Pakistan, Yemen and Myanmar. The impact has been immense, with the organisation estimating that they have produced 10 billion litres of safe drinking water to date. The visit provided Rotary members with a valuable insight into the life-changing work of Aquabox and highlighted the vital role it plays in global humanitarian aid.
World Polio Day – Friday 24th October
Since 1985, Rotary’s key humanitarian priority has been to eradicate polio. At the time, more than 1,000 cases were reported each day in 125 countries, paralysing and often killing children. Thanks to Rotary spearheading the global campaign, cases of polio have now been reduced by 99.9%. A purple crocus has become a symbol of this achievement, representing the purple dye used to mark the finger of a child once vaccinated in a village or community. This simple system ensures that no child is missed or vaccinated twice.
To celebrate the progress made in eradicating polio, Rotary members are planting purple crocuses as a visible reminder of their commitment and success in this vital campaign. For more information visit http://www.rotaryclubofretford.co.uk.