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NID VISIT TO INDIAA group of Rotarians from RIBI recently went to India to take part in an NID. Here is the personal story from President Ian Dow, Rotary Club of Aberdeen St Nicholas. Below you will find another story from PDG John Philip who also wnt on an earlier NID.The trip to India, and Delhi in particular, was indeed an eye opener and a heart warmer foe me.
The first day of Immunisations, we were taken to a centre where we met the Doctor co-ordinating the kiosks where we would be working. We divided into groups and I walked to the Kiosk at a Pharmacy where we worked for three hours and immunised over 550 children under the age of five. This was an amazing experience, working with staff and Rotarians from Delhi. To have so many children taken to the kiosk, thrust into our arms or on to our knees, as they waited for their drops and the mark on their finger as evidence of immunisation. The following day, I felt totally privileged, as I went with Health Visitors, to visit homes to check if their children had received their immunisation. People genuinely seemed pleased to see us, and welcomed us to their homes. I was not prepared for the obvious difficulties and challenges that some families endure in single rooms, with very little comfort.
It was brought home to me, when I realised that the Rotarians and Health Workers carry out the work of immunisations every six weeks. We were there for one event, and by showing solidarity and support, I hope that we have shown that the rest of the world cares what they do in theirs and our hopes of ridding out world from polio. I am so glad to have taken part in a National Immunisation Day, and am confident that I will want to go back. A group of Rotarians from RIBI recently went to India to take part in an NID. Here is the personal story from PDG John Philip District 1040This Rotary sign stands for high standards and selfless service. I have placed it here because I believe that you will discharge to your patients care that meets these high principles’, with these words Immediate Past District Governor John Philip handed over to the medical team in a remote part of Tanzania, a modern operating theatre together with just under £250,000 worth of hospital equipment.. The inspiration for this largest ever international project by District 1040 was D K Lee’s call to 2008-9 DG’s ’25 thousand children die each day because of preventable diseases. All the world’s children are our children. Let us try to do something to save them.’ For John, a retried Surgeon, this was not just any slogan. Last January, he and his wife Chris, both Rotarians from the Mirfield Club, flew to Ukerewe, the largest island on Lake Victoria, reached only by a 3 hour ferry journey from the mainland and were shocked to see surgeons operating with torch light, with very few instruments, most only partially sterilised, in a dirty, operating theatre. The labour room had five beds, some rusted, some covered by torn rubber sheets and soiled foam mattresses. One in twelve children born in the hospital died due to lack of facilities and poor maternity care. This was the District Hospital of Ukerewe which served 350 thousand population – living in scattered communities and islands, connected by mud tracks and boats. John launched a successful appeal which resulted in a 40 foot container with life-saving equipments worth £250,00 being shipped to Ukerewe in June and a team of 24 volunteers from Yorkshire, Sweden and the Wirral joining him and Chris for essential infrastructure renovation and installation of new equipment.. What moved us most was the sense of frustration of the dedicated the staff who wanted better for their patients. We saw hundreds of patients with passive faces, occasional smiles, white teeth and colourful kangas wait quietly on wooden benches or sit on the side of walk ways hoping to see a doctor, have blood tests and collect much needed drugs from the pharmacy. It was these people that we had come to help indirectly by renovating the operating theatre complex. Where to start? So much to do - to remove the grime of 40 years and move the facilities into the 21st century. When the 24 strong team of Rotary volunteers had their first glimpse of the task in front of them, I think they were shocked that people could survive in such apparently dirty conditions. But survive they did – no MRSA or cross-infections at all. It was amazing to us that in our group we seemed to have all kinds of skills –and two volunteers willingly took on project managing the work, carefully planning what needed to be done and in what order – allowing emergency surgery to be undertaken when required. Seven days later the work was complete and we have left behind not only a physical legacy but also the memory of a team of blue-shirted volunteers who laboured and painted, scrubbed and washed paint work, tiled, and cleaned – and even unblocked drains taking only a 15 minute break for a meagre lunch of fruit and water. Malaria is the commonest cause of child mortality on the island. With the help of REMIT we also launched a malaria control programme with volunteers going from village to village to distribute nets and raise awareness about the risk of malaria, which is the commonest cause of child mortality. The project was supported by two matching grants from the Rotary Foundation and generous donations from Clubs, Inner Wheel and private individuals. The team also visited a number of secondary and primary schools and is already putting together a follow up visit and further intervention to reduce child mortality. For everyone of us it has been an amazing experience; the frustrations have been many, but seeing what could be done in such a short time has been inspirational. We are both grateful that Rotary was the vehicle through which lives could be changed for the better and for the friendships that developed both within the team and between us and our Tanzanian on-lookers! The theatre staff watched us from a distance for the first two days – then came to join us wanting to learn how to tile – how to paint and varnish. The male theatre nurse enthusiastically varnished his cupboard himself taking time to even do the top! Africa endears herself to you for ever. We will never forget the sunsets, the skies, the dust, the smiles and the constant handshakes with the Swahili greeting ’Karibu’ – you’re welcome. We have no doubt that it will not be long before some of us return to undertake further work. For speakers about the project, opportunity to volunteer or to become involved in such future projects please contact John Philip 01484 421032 johnphilip@btconnect.com
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