Clubs should focus more on health issues

A call has been made by Rotary District Governor of District 7030, Georges Nouh Chaia, for local clubs to embark on projects that would focus on major health issues, especially HIV/AIDS.{{more}}

Nouh Chaia made the appeal last Thursday, at a special luncheon held in his honor by The Rotary Club of St. Vincent and The Rotary Club of St. Vincent South at the Haddon Hotel.

The Governor urged the groups to get involved in battling these health problems either through educational programs or by joining already established projects, whether national or international.

“The world depends on Rotarians like you to fight against poverty, hunger, malaria, blindness, diabetes, hypertension, end of polio, HIV/AIDS. The absence of a cure for this sexually transmitted disease has resulted in its spread across the world with devastating consequences.”

Governor Nouh Chaia also spoke the organization’s ‘Make Dreams Real’ theme, aimed at reducing the world’s infant mortality rate.

According to the Member of the British Empire and Knight of the National order of Merit, to name a few distinctions, too many of the world’s children die needlessly due to diseases and are caught in a cycle of extreme poverty hunger and illiteracy that can be reduced because Rotarians are uniquely placed in a position to help as they have been doing over the years.

“Through Rotary, we can remedy many of these problems and have an impact on the lives of millions of people, those who we will never meet, but for them the Wheel of Rotary is a symbol of help and hope.”

The French Guianese, accompanied by his wife Liliane, paid a four-day visit to the three local clubs, including the Bequia branch.

They also toured the Fancy water project, and the School for Children with Special Needs; a scheduled visit to Her Majesty’s Prisons was, however, cancelled.

Apart from the three St. Vincent and the Grenadines clubs, Governor Nouh Chaia oversees 66 other clubs in 13 other countries.(JJ)