NID Info/Polio

TO:        Rotarians Interested in Polio Immunization Volunteer Trips &
               Friends of Rotary With a Similar Interest

FROM:   Barbara Groner, D6360 WCS Chair, Zone 28

              PDG John and Sue Behrendt, D6490, Zone 29

RE:        November 11-20 Trip to Abuja, Nigeria for NID &

              West Africa Project Fair

You have expressed an interest in being part of Rotary's Polio Eradication Efforts.   Thank you for this!  Now you have the opportunity to participate in a volunteer team.

PDG John Behrendt and Rotarian Barbara Groner have just completed plans for a World Community Service Trip to Abuja, Nigeria, leaving the U.S. on November 11 and returning on November 20.  

The purpose of this trip is two fold:

*  Involvement in the November National Immunization Days

    health initiative including the giving of Oral Polio Vaccine.

*  Participation in the 3rd Annual West Africa Project Fair.

Nigeria is one of the four remaining countries in the world where polio is still endemic.   It has had 91 cases so far this year.  Last year it had 1123 of the 1997 polio cases identified worldwide.  At this same time last year Nigeria had identified 421 polio cases.  These statistics come directly from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.  (For more detailed information check out www.polioeradication.org/casecount.asp on the web.)   Your support will be greatly appreciated by the local Rotarians and health care workers. As a volunteer you will be sharing in the giving of polio drops—not supervising!

At the West Africa Project Fair team members will learn about pressing community needs as identified by the Rotarians of fourteen different nations.   Projects presented will include:  health, nutrition, water, sanitation, literacy, education, and community development.   Hopefully team members will find projects at the fair to champion within their Rotary clubs and/or districts.   Pre-trip planning steps can make this a sure thing—and you will have help with this.

The two-page registration form for this trip is attached.   Hopefully you will be able to join our volunteer team!  

Questions?  Contact--

PDG John & Sue Behrendt:  217-324-5443 or behrendt@wamusa.com

Rotarian Barbara Groner:  269-782-6262 or barbara.groner@gmail.com

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C. "Buzz" Buzzard, cbuzzaz@aol.com from the Rotary Club of Lakeway/Lake Travis will be leaving for an NID event.  Here is a press release from RI:
 

Rotary members travel across the globe to battle polio in remaining strongholds
Part of global effort to eradicate polio worldwide

(Evanston, IL - USA: January 2007)  Nearly 100 volunteers from the United States and Europe will travel to India and the West African country of Nigeria to immunize children against polio - a crippling and potentially fatal disease that still threatens children in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East.  

These volunteers - all members of Rotary, a humanitarian service organization that has made polio eradication its top philanthropic goal - will work with local authorities and Rotarians to help administer the drops of oral polio vaccine to every child under the age of five, deliver the vaccine to remote villages and educate families on the importance of protecting children against polio.  The following teams will depart in January and February 2007:

Nigeria   Team of 20 volunteers     
Team Leader:   Bruce Howard (Cambria, CA)    805 927-6181  
                       bruce@brucehowardrealtor.com
                       (Jan 21- Feb 1)           (from central CA) 

India    Team of 21 volunteers    
Team Leader:   Anil Garg (Simi Valley, CA)       805 520-9790
                       Anil.garg@lpl.com
                       (Feb 6-17)  (from CA, OR and AZ)   

India       Team of 30 volunteers  
Team Leader:    Dave Groner (Dowagiac, MI)    (269) 208-5716
                       groner@locallink.net
                       (Feb 4-15)  (from ___, Sweden and Denmark)  

India    Team of __ volunteers  
        Team Leader: Elias Thomas (Acton, ME) (207) 432-2222     ethomas@metrocast.net

Nigeria and India are the major strongholds of polio and among just four countries (including Pakistan and Afghanistan) where the virus has never stopped circulating.  World health experts recently announced that a polio-free world now hinges on these four countries. 
Northern Nigeria accounts for the majority of global cases having reported 1,062 in 2006 out of a global total of 1,874 cases (data as of 31 December 2006). http://www.polioeradication.org/casecount.asp   "Even though there is an effective vaccine, the biggest challenge is reaching every child," said Bruce Howard, leader of the group from California traveling to Nigeria.  "Vaccinators must overcome many obstacles such as harsh weather conditions, rough terrain and community suspicion.  Our team is ready to face these and many other challenges in Nigeria, which is essentially ground-zero for the poliovirus." 
India is the other major hotbed for this disease, accounting for 624 cases in 2006.   "Until polio is eradicated worldwide, every child remains at risk," said Anil Garg, team leader of the group traveling to his former homeland of India.  "Preventing paralysis from polio in just one child has major social and economic consequences for the victim, family and entire country, as many suffering from polio become social outcasts and are often prohibited from working or marrying."
Rotary's commitment to end polio represents the largest private-sector support of a global health initiative ever.  In 1985, Rotary members worldwide vowed to immunize all the world's children against polio.  Since then, Rotary has contributed more than US$616 million to a polio-free world. Besides raising and contributing funds, over one million men and women of Rotary have volunteered their time and personal resources to help immunize more than 2 billion children in 122 countries during national immunization campaigns. 

Tremendous progress has been made in the last two decades.  To date, the number of polio cases has been reduced from 350,000 children annually in the mid 1980s to less than 2,000 cases all last year.  Only 4 countries: Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, are still polio-endemic - an all-time low. 

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is spearheaded by the World Health Organization, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Rotary International is the world's first and one of the largest non-profit humanitarian service organizations.  It is comprised of 1.2 million business and professional leaders in nearly 170 countries.  Rotary members initiate community projects that address many of today's most critical issues such as violence, AIDS, hunger, the environment and health care.

For further information visit www.rotary.org or www.polioeradication.org.

 
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Dear Friends: Since returning from Ghana last week, I have had a number of requests from fellow Rotarians about contact information in the event one wants to consider an NID trip in the future. Please help spread the word. Let me know if you have any questions. GENE

Brad Howard (PDG 02-03; D5170); Howard Tours; BHoward@HowardTours.net    
Barbara Groner; Barbara.Groner@gmail.com      

Individuals may request to get on their e-mailing address to receive info about future NIDs. As I understand it, there are plans for trips to Nigeria and India in 2007.

PDG GENE E. DAVENPORT
D5870 Foundation Chairperson
gd2005dg@aol.com

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District 5870 volunteers return from humanitarian mission in Africa

Rotarians Gene (and wife Janet) Davenport--(Rotary Club of Georgetown) and Tim Buckley (and wife Gail)--Rotary of Club of Northwest Austin) recently returned from the West African country of Ghana where they helped protect children from polio – a crippling and potentially fatal disease that still threatens children in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. These four volunteers helped to administer the drops of oral polio vaccine to children under the age of five. 

Following this humanitarian mission, Tim Buckley said, “I am so proud to have been part of this historic effort to rid the world of a crippling disease that has impacted millions of lives throughout the centuries. No child today should suffer from polio as an effective vaccine has made it totally preventable.” Gene Davenport said, “The feeling of saving a life from polio is very difficult to describe. The image of this very meaningful experience will be in our memories for the rest of our lives.”

In addition to polio immunizations, children also received Vitamin A supplements and were vaccinated against measles. Children under the age of two received free bed nets to help prevent malaria and other mosquito born illnesses. 

The group also participated in a project fair where Rotarians from 15 countries in West Africa displayed approximately 400 proposals to be later considered by The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International for funding.  These projects addressed such issues as community development, health and nutrition, literacy, clean water and sanitation. 

Rotary’s commitment to end polio represents the largest private-sector support of a global health initiative ever.  In 1985, Rotary members worldwide vowed to immunize all the world’s children against polio.  Since then, Rotary has contributed nearly US$616 million along with countless volunteer hours to help immunize more than 2 billion children in 122 countries. 

A highly infectious disease, polio can cause paralysis and sometimes death.  As there is no cure, the best protection is prevention. For as little as US .60 cents worth of vaccine, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life.  To date, the number of polio cases has been reduced from 350,000 children annually in the mid 1980s to approximately 2,000 cases all last year.  Only four countries: Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, are still polio-endemic - an all-time low. 

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is spearheaded by the World Health Organization, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

For further information visit, www.rotary.org or www.polioeradication.org.
Also, Gene and Tim are available to do programs in D5870 Rotary Clubs.

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At their October 2005 meeting, The Rotary Foundation Trustees agreed to lift the moratorium on Individual Grants effective 1 July 2006 for volunteer travel taking place after 1 October 2006. The Trustees evaluated the grant program at their April 2006 meeting and agreed on modifications to improve stewardship of Individual Grants and allocate resources required to process them efficiently.

Volunteer Service Grants (VSGs) are now replacing Individual Grants. This name change more closely reflects the intention of this program and better defines what The Rotary Foundation is funding. Whether you are traveling to Africa to help plan a project or traveling to India to provide dental service, you are volunteering and serving the community. With the new name change, the following list is a summary of some of the other changes:

• Only active Rotarians are eligible to travel. Spouses who are not Rotary club members but who are qualified to serve may accompany a team but may not serve as the team leader or travel without a team

• Minimum stay for direct service grants is 10 days at the project site

• The award is now a flat grant with US$3,000 available to an individual or $6,000 available for a team of up to five members
• Remaining funds may be used for project related costs per the terms and conditions

• Receipts are required for single expenditures over $75
• The agreement form and the payee information are included in the application to expedite payment
• Applications must be received three months prior to departure and be complete for approval two months prior to departure

• Eligibility for travelers is based on 1) a defined community need; 2) a need that can be met by the experience and skills of the Rotarians/team and 3) an understanding that the skills and experience are not available in the community. Start planning now with the host club and/or district to ensure adequate documentation of pre-application plans.

The new applications and terms and conditions are available for download. Applications will be accepted starting 1 July 2006 for travel starting 1 October 2006. Individual Grant applications will not be accepted.

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We are so proud that several Rotarians from our district will be participating in NID (National Immunization Days) in various parts of the the world.

Gene and Janet Davenport, Tim and Gail Buckley will be going to Africa the first part of November.

Buzz Buzzard is going to India.

There is a team forming to go to India, probably Feb 11-17 and it would be in the Utter Pardish, State of India.  For further information, please contact Dave Groner at groner@locallink.net or Buzz Buzzard at cbuzzaz@aol.com.

http://www.rotary.org/foundation/polioplus/index.html