World Heath Fairs Rotarian Action Group Newsletter

Rotarians Working to Improve World Health

October 2008

Health Care Around the World

Rotarians from 35 countries are working together to improve

world health.

With their battle cry of "

Prevention is the intention" their

mission has been and is to provide and promote health care

and disease prevention wherever the opportunity presents

itself. This simple but profound mission statement reflects a

lifelong commitment by these members to provide "service

above self" and to prolong life of individuals wherever

possible.

Health promotion is a very difficult and sensitive issue with

cultural differences in many countries impacting negatively

the work of the Rotarians their" on-ground" support.

Intentions of help need to be tempered with convincing

education and respect for cultural differences as well as local

economic conditions.

Recognizing these limitations Rotarians have

established their vision to bring the right care,

education and information to each region. Working

in such diverse countries as USA, Russia, the

Philippines, Thailand, Mexico, Mongolia and Fiji

there is an impressive degree of cooperation with

governments, and public health professionals to

provide the wide range of services to people with

little or no access to health care.

During our strategic planning meeting in Los

Angeles in June 2008 many milestones were

achieved and are continuing to be accomplished. A

representative sample follows below:

Russia

·

13 Health Fair Centers and 3 satellite

offices are fully operational, or in final

planning for service.

·

Health Fairs have been conducted and are

targeted at many different audiences, but the most popular

is youth. Some disease specific health fairs have been held,

such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes or hypertension. Mobile

health fairs have helped to deliver preventive health care to

smaller communities.

Philippines:

·

The first health fair was held in November 2006 by

members of the Paranaque East Rotary Club, Plans are to

expand to other areas

. Mexico: Merida, Yucatan

·

PDG David and his wife Rotarian Ruby Gonzalez are

spearheading efforts in the Merida area, and have

conducted health fairs in Progresso.

·

3 Rotarians from Canada participated in the Health fair in

Merida, Mexico. with 2 Rotarians from Alaska. It was

organized by 4 of 5 Clubs in the city. 2000 local people

from the poorer area participated in the Health Fair.

·

Children from the local schools also received information

on drug abuse, harmful use of tobacco, diet, and general

health issues. There were several workshops, on sexual

abuse, dental hygiene, maternity clinic, blood pressure

clinic and many others.

·

The members from Canada donated dental supplies,

resuscitation training

and hearing aids.

·

Additional health fairs

were held in Alaska,

All these health fairs are being

repeated in 2009. However in

order to expand the services,

additional members are truly

needed to join the group. You

can get further information on

the group website at

http://www.worldhealthfairs.org/WHF/index.htm

Health Fairs can provide:

·

Eye care and

vision

·

Emergency

techniques

·

Dental health

·

Healthy living

for teens

·

Infant care and

childhood health

·

Blood pressure

and blood tests

·

Reproductive

health

·

Early cancer

detection

and prevention of:

HIV/AIDS

, T uberculosis , Malaria

Diphtheria

Hypertension