The president elect of the Diss and District Rotary Club is preparing to fly to India to help immunise children and babies against polio.

It will be the third time that Heather Babb has gone to India and all the travelling expenses have been paid for privately.

Polio has almost been eradicated from the world, thanks to a Rotary initiative.

In 1985, Rotary launched its PolioPlus programme, the first initiative to tackle global polio eradication through the mass vaccination of children.

Every year, hundreds of Rotary members work side-by-side with health workers to vaccinate children in polio-affected countries.

Last year there were only 72 reported cases globally, 53 in Pakistan and 19 in Afghanistan.

President Dick Mitchell, of Diss and District Rotary Club, wished his fellow member bon voyage.

He said: 'The reason Rotarians help with this programme is to promote the benefits of immunising babies at an early stage. There are some parents who may not ordinarily attend clinics, but are willing to come along to the immunisation booths with their babies and young children.'