Carnegie Newsletter 20th Oct 2011

At this week's meeting Alan Timmins updated us on progress in Rotary's programme of eradicating polio throughout the world. The most striking success is that there have been no new cases of polio in India in the last six months. And the number of cases in central and west Africa have very much reduced. The hotspots in the area around the Pakistan/Afghanistan border and the south Sahara states remain. There has also been a return of the virus to China, where a few cases have been reported.

Overall, there has been a 40% drop from 635 Type 1 cases in the first half of 2010 to 370 to date this year. But programmes of mass vaccinations continue to be essential even in areas where no cases have been reported to prevent the return of the virus.

The club also watched a short video of the Jole Rider project in the Gambia,which we had finally tracked down. The Jole Rider project is run by Rotary Clubs. It collects and refurbishes bicycles, and collects books to take out to schools in Africa. Our club has agreed to set up a bicycle collection project for the Janet School in the Gambia, where we will also help to build and furnish an extension.

The video is an excellent presentation of how the project works and the difference it makes in helping children to get to school.

Watch the video yourself on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/joleriderb4a#p/u/1/XqOKmcWM0D0.

Incoming GSE Team from District 9700
It seems a long time ago now, but we haven't reported on the week that the incoming GSE team spent with the club. The visit was enjoyed by the team and by all the members of the club who were involved in hosting or transporting the team around. Highlights included a historical tour of Scotland's real Capital City by Helen, and a bus tour of the Trossachs, thanks to Allan P. Alison and Gillian joined them