The fight against polio is an international one.

Two members from the Rotary Club of Port Macquarie Sunrise and a friend of Rotary have done their bit to keep India free of polio.

The club’s president, Trish Affleck-Mooney, secretary Alec Brown and friend of Rotary, Bobbie-Jo Woods, devoted three days in January to the keep India polio-free campaign.

They joined Rotarians from 10 countries at Agra in northern India.

The volunteers were divided into groups after an orientation session.

They helped out with the polio immunisation program in the slums of Agra and surrounding districts.

Mr Brown said the experience was humbling.

“It was a magic experience,” he said.

“I didn’t quite know what to expect.”

Mr Brown said the Rotary Club of Port Macquarie Sunrise was committed to polio eradication through fundraising and publicity.

Mrs Affleck-Mooney said the experience was humbling, emotional and quite overwhelming at times.

“They don’t call it incredible India for nothing,” she said.

“Expect the unexpected.”

Mrs Affleck-Mooney said Rotary’s commitment to eradicate polio worldwide was absolutely priceless.

Rotarians have helped immunise more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries.

The virus, typically spread through contaminated water, can attack the nervous system, and in some instances, lead to paralysis. 

Polio is incurable but completely vaccine-preventable.

Ms Woods said being part of the keep India polio-free vaccination campaign was a pretty amazing experience.

“There is so much more that needs to continue to happen in order to ensure, especially for polio, that this disease doesn’t take off again,” she said.

“It brings home the need to be educated and vaccinated [against diseases] in this country as well.”

Mrs Affleck-Mooney, Mr Brown and Ms Woods joined an end polio now rally through the streets of Agra.

Less than 75 polio cases were confirmed worldwide in 2015.