The money raised is specifically towards polio eradication and is in addition to the many thousands of pounds Rotary Clubs raise for local and international projects each year.
In Aberystwyth Arts Centre a film by award-winning documentary film-maker Tom Roberts is being screened on the eve of World Rotary Day, (22 February). “Every Last Child” was commissioned by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi to highlight the need to support Rotary in its aim to eradicate Polio in Pakistan
South Wales District Governor Peter Hamilton said, “I am delighted that we have reached this significant milestone in the history of Rotary in South Wales.
Since the inception of our campaign to eradicate Polio in 1985 Rotarians in this District have donated $1Million to this cause. This amount excludes any matching money from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It has all been our money”.
“I would therefore like to take this moment to pay tribute to all our members, past and present, who have worked tirelessly for this cause over the years and to say how proud we should be of our achievement, which has helped to reduce new cases of polio by 99.9%.”
Not only does Rotary in South Wales raise money and awareness for this cause, but many of its members volunteer their own time to go to India and take part in the annual National Immunisation Day.
Swansea GP Dr Mair Williams is well aware of what a devastating illness Polio can be. She contracted the disease as a child in Ystradgynlais, Swansea, and even spent time in an iron lung to help with her breathing. It prompted her to follow a medical career and research the disease. As a Rotarian, she has also taken part in National Immunisation Days in India.
“The recent Coronavirus has demonstrated how quickly a disease can spread when it is just a plane ride away. Until we eradicate Polio there is always a danger it can return,” she says
Merthyr Tydfil Rotarian Subrahmanyam Ganesh has taken part in National Immunisation Days in India on three occasions. He recalls a trip to Mysore in South India.
“I worked with a local Rotarian to go round the city visiting the booths and encouraging the Rotarian Volunteers
“We spent the day visiting about 12 different booths, spending a short time at each, talking to the volunteers and the parents and administering the vaccine to a few children.”
He adds. “Rotarians around the world have been involved in storage, transport and delivery of the vaccine to places, which no other agency has been able to reach. They have taken part in vaccination programmes personally in many countries. Rotarians have been successful in arranging for periods of truce between fighting factions in areas of war and civil conflict so that vaccination programmes could be conducted in those areas.”
more Congratulations our members who have been recognised both in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List and taken office in their Community
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more Organisational holding folder
more A SONG TO COMMEMORATE THE CENTENARY OF THE END OF WW1
more Howard Craven of Swansea is to be honoured with the prestigious Rotary Great Britain and Ireland Community Champion award for his work to help Parc Prison inmates to reclaim their lives.
more Youth Competitions in 2018
more When a child receives their life saving polio drops on mass polio immunisation days in many countries their little finger is painted with a purple dye so it is clear they have received their life saving vaccine.
more Rotarian Jonathan Stephens, Past President of Rotary Usk has recently returned from Delhi, India where he was part of a team of UK Rotarian volunteers helping administer the polio vaccine to children as part of Rotary International’s End Polio initiative.
more Eight teams from across District 1150 gathered at Ty Hywel, Cardiff Bay for the final of the Welsh District Youth Speaks. All had qualified from earlier rounds.
more The Sadler family were overwhelmed with the support from the American Rotarians.
more Rotary Cardiff celebrates the 100 years of its Charter on Wednesday 1st November 2017. The dinner will take place where Rotary held its first ever meeting in Wales.
more Not only did RC Swansea support a charity event at a local school their DIY skills made a range of games that helped to raise nearly £2000 for the school.
more The UK government is pledging £100m in the fight against polio.
more Young people from 16 different countries are converging on Southern Wales District from 20 to 30 July on a real Welsh Cultural Adventure through the Rotary International Youth Camp.
more Ndori, Western Kenya, villagers have been unable to overcome the effects of severe droughts resulting in increased poverty, malnutrition, hunger and destitution. The project aims to drill a fresh borehole to provide, via a solar pump, reliable fresh water
more The fourth annual Welsh Dragon Boat Championship was held at Llysyfran Reservoir and Country Park, Sunday 28 May, supported by Narberth and Whitland Rotary Club.
more Cardiff Rotary hosted an early celebration of their 100 year birthday with a reception at Cardiff Castle which included a Beating Retreat Ceremony by the Band of The Royal Welsh.
more The Award, presented to George Mercer of the Rotary Club of Cardiff, was for creating change and opportunity within the field of membership development.
more Competitors from all over southern Wales gathered in the impressive setting of Cowbridge Comprehensive School for the Intermediate and Senior final of Youth Speaks for the District.
more Bowls competition rolls ahead.
more To coincide with the Rio Paralympics, attendees tried out 30 disabled sports at the National Indoor arena at Cardiff Met University, beating the previous record by 200.
more DGE Maggie Hughes was invited to represent Rotary at an event held at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff to celebrate the communities, organisations and individuals who are helping to make Wales a dementia friendly nation.
more The Narberth and Whitland Rotary Clubs Sounds Fantastic showcases these young people in a fantastic afternoon of Musical Excellence.
more A section of the A4119 Tonypandy by-pass has been named Rhondda Rotary Way to celebrate the Rhondda club"™s 60th birthday.