Service Clubs

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Michael Crossling (R) explains how the malaria mosquito net functions

Michael Crossling of Port Elgin Rotary Club recently gave a presentation of his 2009 trip to Cameroon.

Crossling's trips have been a visual documentary of life in Cameroon and also the work that Rotary has done and continues to do in that country.

Michael Crossling illustrates the work that Rotary Club is doing in Cameroon

One of the poorest countries in Africa, many of its peoples have succumbed to malaria and, therefore, one of Rotary's primary objectives is to provide mosquito netting, especially for mothers and children.

Rotarians learn through hands-on demonstration

"We do not hand these nets out indiscriminately," says Crossling.  "The mothers first have to take a health course and at completion, they can then have a net.  While these have saved many lives, clean water is the first concern and we have installed 'clean-water' facilities such as artesian wells and pumps."

While Crossling has been to Cameroon and documented its living conditions, he points out that others in Rotary International should become involved.  "This is an ongoing situation and we have to have others come on board to help out," he says.

While Cameroon is an ongoing effort for the local Club, Port Elgin's President, Mark Kraemer also raised the issue of the earthquake in Japan and how the club could lend its support through the 'Shelter Box' campaign.

Through the campaign, Rotary Clubs instantly "... respond to earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami or nature conflicts by delivery boxes of aid ...".  Each box provides an extended family with a large tent and lifesaving equipment while they are displaced or homeless. 

Each box is tailored to the nature and location of the disaster and costs $1,000.  Each box also bears a unique number so that a donor can track it to its destination where highly trained response teams then distribute the boxes on the ground by working closely with local organizations, international agencies and Rotary Clubs worldwide.

Port Elgin Rotary agreed to immediately donate five boxes.

For more information of the Shelter Box program, Click Here

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Sunday, March 20, 2011