Polio Eradication Newsletter October 2002
"FULFILLING OUR PROMISE: ERADICATE POLIO"
"Deep in my heart, I know this campaign will
inspire Rotarians to extraordinary giving. We must fulfil our promise to
a world that now dares to dream that Polio will never afflict another
child. We cannot turn away from those children and their parents who
still wait for two drops of vaccine that will wipe out not only a
devastating disease, but the fear of that disease - a fear that
paralyses the soul".
RI President Bichai Rattak.
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GOOD NEWS
I discovered on the Polio Eradication website today
(10.10.02) that wild polio has only been recorded in 6 countries
- Nigeria, Niger, Somalia, India, Afghanistan and Pakistan this
year.
However, there are about 750 cases recorded so far but
the figures are affected by an outbreak of around 300 in
Northern India.
Such news must make us all the more determined to eradicate
polio as soon as possible. Without eradication there will be
the risk of reintroduction unless immunisation continues.
Immunisations in Pakistan and Afghanistan
a. 30 million children immunised in Pakistan during 3rd
to 5th September
b. 5.9.million children immunised during the same weekend
in Afghanistan in a house to house campaign. |
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March 2003 is
"Let's March on Polio Month" |
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DISTRICT TARGET £100,000
THANK YOU.
The majority of clubs intend to raise the
equivalent of £50 per Rotarian. I know that you will succeed.
Thank you so much for this final extra special effort to rid the
world of the scourge of polio.
Thank you for the invitations to speak to
clubs about Polio eradication. By the end of the year 35 clubs
will have been spoken to.
We are keen to speak to others!!
Contributions to RI have been sent from
Bakewell, Beeston, Bingham and District, Nottingham, Stapleford
and Sandiacre, and Trent Bridge, and total $8,962.64 - just under
£6000.
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FUND RAISING IDEAS
1. An idea for Christmas presents:
Peter Bennett of the Bakewell club has some
cassette tapes of Christmas Carols sung by the Sheffield
Chorale an Orchestra available for sale and is putting the
proceeds to Polio Eradication. The cost is £4.30. He also has a
few CDs at £10.50. Club discounts are available. Please contact
Peter for further information at Holme lea, Over Lane, Baslow,
Nr. Bakewell DE45 1SA Tel No. 01246 583,264
Please call him for further information.
2. Christmas cards are available from Sherwood
Sunrisers. Contact Noel Harrison at 01623 883122 or
at Tyke House, Main Street, Edingley Newark, Notts NG22 8BE
3. The Heanor Club sold goods in a shop in Heanor and
raised around £1300. Contact Keith Poynton for further
information at 01773 713821
4. Beeston will be holding a Concert at Chilwell
Methodist Church on Saturday 22nd March at 7.00pm for 7.30pm.
Nottingham City Transport Brass Band and the Retford Male
Voice Choir will perform.
5. Belper held an evening for schoolteachers from the
local area at which the need for Polio Eradication was shown and
I believe some schools are either going to make donations or
hold events for Polio Eradication. |
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REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION
1. MEDIA LAUNCH
The Mayor of Derby hosted a media launch on 16th September in
Derby. Short addresses by the Mayor, BY PDG Anne Robertson from
Kentucky, by Peter Jay from the British Polio Fellowship were
made.
I would like to hear of any coverage that you may have seen
or heard in any of the local papers etc. Please let me know if
you saw anything.
2. INTERESTING CLUB ACTIVITIES
Please let me have details of any Club projects that you are
doing - or have done - for Polio. It may be that the information
would be of interest to other clubs.
3. EVENTS If you would like me to notify Clubs
through the Polio newsletter of events that you are going to
hold for polio eradication I would be pleased to do so. |
DONATIONS
Cheques should be made
payable to:
"RF UK Ltd. - Polio Eradication"
and sent to
RIBI, Kinwarton Road, Alcester,
Warwickshire
B49 6PB as soon as possible.
RIBI will forward donations to the Rotary Foundation where it
will be invested and used during the next few months.
Please let me know how much you send so that I can keep an
eye on the figures and to see if further fund raising is needed
by the District.
An e-mail will be fine.
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What is Polio? It is a highly infectious viral
disease entering by mouth and passed through the gut. Initial symptoms
are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiff neck and pain in the
limbs. It can cause paralysis, which is almost always irreversible. In
the most severe cases polio paralysis can lead to death by asphyxiation.
There is no specific cure.
INFORMATION ON POLIO
is available on
- RI website www.rotary.org
- WHO Polio Eradication website: www.polioeradication.org
www.who.int/inf/en/WHO-UNICEF-pr-2002-01.html
- Newsletters, ideas for fund-raising by members and clubs, a fact sheet
and notes of a talk are on the District Website www.rotary1220.org
PUBLICITY MATERIAL
The following material is available from the ROSS
at RIBI at Alcester. Ring and ask for them 01789 765411
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Posters are available free. I have
small supply here.
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Stickers - these are for lapels and it
is suggested that they are used on flag days etc.
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The RI kits and the leaflets produced
by RI are also available.
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Video each group representative has an
excellent video on "Fulfilling the Promise;
Eradicate Polio". It lasts 6 minutes and if you
would like to borrow it please contact your representative.
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I have a Powerpoint presentation for loan if required.
NOTTINGHAM MEDIA LAUNCH
Negotiations continue re holding a similar event
in Nottingham.
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FOR TALKS AND INFORMATION CONTACT
Keith Hammond at 01332 347949.
e-mail: via
the contact centre
Or any member of the committee
POLIO ERADICATION CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
Keith Hammond Derby (Chairman)
Colin Brockington Bretby (South) 01283 731724
Bibek Pradhan Mansfield (North) 01623 490789
Peter Clark Wirksworth (West) 01629 823059
Val Lindley Sherwood Sunrisers (East) 0115 926 6618
Brian Darlison (Hucknall) PR 0115 952 0202
SNIPPETS FROM RI NEWSLETTER
- 60% of Rotarians worldwide joined Rotary since the last Polio Plus
campaign of the mid 1980's. They can now have the opportunity to
support polio eradication.
- RI regards this drive for Polio Eradication as the most important
programme for Rotary this year. Over 35,000 Rotarians are active in
Polio fundraising.
- US$7.3million donated so far towards the campaign.
QUOTATIONS
"Not a single child needs to be disabled by
polio in the future. All of together must make that effort."
Carol Long, UNICEF Country representative in Pakistan
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CONFERENCE
The "Fulfilling Our Promise: Eradicate Polio" video
was shown at Conference. This is available on loan to clubs from
your Group representative. £933 was raised at the raffle at
Conference - Thanks for your generosity
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