Rotary out West

255

Thursday, August 07, 2014

Remoteness not a challenge for the poliovirus

But a major challenge for polio fighters and requires complex coordination

24 July 2014 - PUNTLAND, Somalia:

UN agencies in Somalia combined forces once again

to help a joint UNICEF and WHO team visit a

remote district of Puntland in north east Somalia

where four people have contracted polio this year.

The victims –

a young father who died and three children who were paralysed

– all came from Jariban district,

a long drive on a dusty track from the nearest main town Galkayo

in an area known for pirates and armed gangs.

As these were the only four polio cases

in Somalia so far this year,

it was essential to visit the area to discover how the virus

got there and how to stop it spreading further.

However the terrain, distance, logistics and above

all security concerns made it an extremely challenging proposition.

After coordination and cooperation involving

at least four UN agencies,

the convoy set off on at dawn on 22 July

and drove seven hours from Galkayo to Jariban town,

where the team met a group of elders

to discuss the outbreak and raise awareness

. The town has only one Mother and Child Health clinic

run by the Red Crescent Society but no hospital or other facilities.

The following day they drove another three hours

to Towfiq village where they visited the family

of the 29 year old man who had died after contracting polio.

‘This was a very sad visit –

the man’s wife said she and their five children

had been vaccinated but he had not.

He was the only breadwinner in the family,’

said Dr. Abraham Mulugeta,

WHO Somalia’s Polio Team Leader.

The three children who were paralysed

by polio this year live in villages close to Towfiq

that are only accessible on foot,

so the team could not visit them.

However experts had already met one of the children,

two year old Asha, who had earlier been brought

by her mother who was desperate for help to Galkayo.

While in Towfiq,

the team watched the door to door vaccination

campaign for children

– the third round of vaccinations since the outbreak

was discovered in the area in May this year.

There will be another campaign in August

in the whole of Mudug region and surrounding areas

, for adults as well.

There is no health facility in Towfiq

so these campaigns are crucial to stop the virus spreading.

Vaccinators have been selected from the local community,

and clan leaders and elders are being informed

about the need for vaccination.

More volunteers have been recruited to search actively

for any cases of paralysis so that any polio

can be swiftly found

and the community adequately protected.

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Miles to End Polio

On 22 November,

Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko

and six Rotary staff members

will be joining Arizona Rotary members

to bike up to 104 miles in El Tour de Tucson

to fundraise for polio eradication

. Learn how you can support their effort

and read about the team members.

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reprinted with permission Rotary Club of Mill Point

Rotary Theme 1993/1994

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Hat Day is here again on Friday October 10th, 2014

- the fundraising day where you wear a hat

and raise funds for mental health research.

We're asking organisations, clubs, businesses

and others to show their support for the

1 in 5 people suffering a mental illness.

100% of the funds you raise will go directly

to mental health research projects around Australia

through Australian Rotary Health.

So will you get involved?

We've just launched a brand new website

for this year's Hat Day

. Register your Hat Day online!

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Rotary Club of Freshwater Bay

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Rotary Club of Perth

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Rotary Club of Scarborough

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Rotary Club of Boulder

Past President Jim Fleming after being announced as Kalgoorlie/Boulder

Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the year

Pictured with his wife Claire

Rotary Club of Armadale

Board Director of Australian Rotary Health

Past District Governor Phil Cordery

presented Jeff Cairns with an Companion Award

for his substantial contributions to the Health Fund

Around the Clubs

Rotary Club of Kununurra

President Lars Moir and DG Angus. In Kununurra.

President Lars, Leif and Grace. Spent an amazing day on the Ord River

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Rotary Club of Northam

Rotary Club of Balcatta

Held a joint meeting in Northam last week

President Jan Horsley and President Denis Parker

Balcatta Rotarians Karen Parker Michael and Jackie Reece

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Rotary Club of Boulder

The Radio Auction Party

The party to celebrate the ending of the week long on-line auction

was a little subdued this year until it was found

that the value of goods sold leapt by $800

immediately after the auction closed.

There was excellent catering.

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Rotary Club of Karrinyup

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Rotary Club of Southern Districts

enjoying some fellowship on their Bus Tour

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Rotary Club of Freshwater Bay

Were visited by Rotarian Jeremy Foster

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Rotary Club of Applecross

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Rotary Club of Canning Bridge

Rotary Club of Hannans Kalgoorlie

District Governor Nominee Linda McLerie [D9465]

and President of Rotary Club of Hannans Kalgoorlie

with President Robyn Jones Rotary Club of Canning Bridge

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Rotary Club of Cockburn

Past Presidents [ 2013/14 ] Lunch

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Rotaract Club of Subiaco

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Rotary Club of Swan Valley

Service Above Selfie - President Donna Evans

and Rotarian Rachel Ivic at the Club's

Small Mob Shearing Day in Gidgegannup

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Rotary Club of Belmont

officiating at the weekly Swap Meet

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Rotary Club of Osborne Park

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Rotary Club of Karrinyup

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Rotary Club of Scarborough

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Rotary Club of Quairading

Rotary Club of Cunderdin

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Rotary Club of Swan Valley

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Club Promotions

September

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October

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Rotaract Clubs of D9455

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November

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2015

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Raise me up

Sally and Harry have been married for 50 years

and are being interviewed by a reporter

from the local newspaper.

"So Sally," asks the reporter,

"I know today is your golden wedding anniversary,

how old, exactly, are you?"

"I am 78 years old," replies Sally proudly.

"And I hope I live to be 100."

"Well I hope your wish comes true,"

says the reporter.

The reporter then turned to Harry and asked,

"And how old are you, Harry?"

"I'm also 78 years old," replies Harry,

"and, please God, I should live to be 101."

"But why," asked the reporter,

"would you want to live one year

longer than your wife?"

"Well, to tell you the truth," replies Harry,

"I would like to have at least one year

of peace and quiet."