Apopka Rotarians help prevent polio in India

Local Leaders Treat Children in India to Prevent Polio

“It was a life changing experience that will forever stay with me,” Apopkan Deborah Perez stated upon her return with Dr. Kristine Clark to administer polio immunizations to children in a rural farming area of India. Clark and Perez were among 50 Rotarians from 11 countries who had the honor of participating in the Mega Campaign--Polio Free India.

Deborah Perez (r) and Dr. Kristine Clark (l)

After traveling 18 hours by air to Delhi, India then 3 hours by bus to Agra, India, Clark disclosed, “I was struck by the juxtaposition of the beauty of the landscape, the kindness of the people, and the abject poverty. Vaccinating the children for polio was a very meaningful and touching way to realize how much Rotary means to me and how much our organization has done for the world.” Clark is the owner of Apopka Veterinary Clinic.

After orientation, the group of worldwide leaders rallied in the streets of Agra passing out fliers informing the residents of immunizations on the next day. They were hosted by the president of Rotary Club of Agra Taj Mahal and ten other clubs for the duration of the campaign. On the second day, the duo was paired with two other women to administer the oral polio drops to youngsters five and under.

“I can remember as a child hating liquid medicine, but here, up to 100 kids sat, with their mouths open, waiting for the medicine,” Perez, district manager at Waste Management, remarked. After administering the lifesaving liquid, the team went to a rural school to give hygiene instruction, then they toured projects of Rotary clubs, including a school built by an Agra Rotary Club.

The devastating and deadly disease has been reduced from 1,000 cases a day around the world to only three (3) wild poliomyelitis cases in three (3) countries through February 27, 2017 and 37 last for the entire year of 2016 (WHO). Rotarians have been fighting polio since 1979.

Rotary International brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.23 million plus members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 205 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world, rotary.org. Rotary clubs focus their efforts in six areas: promoting peace, preventing diseases, providing access to clean water and sanitation, enhancing maternal and child health, improving basic education and literacy, and helping communities develop.