For this grant the Polio Survivors & Associates Rotarian Action Group collaborated with the RC Delhi Midtown, District 3010 India, District 3450 Hong Kong, RC Queensway, RC Taipei Fujung, RC Taipei Castle, and RC Wanchai along with St. Stephens Hospital in Tis Hazari in the province of Delhi, India to fund corrective surgery and rehabilitation on 200 polio afflicted children ranging in age from 3-18 years. This was done through a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant that will be completed over a 24-month period.
The polio survivors come from impoverished communities in and around Delhi including the continuing endemic regions of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They cannot afford the cost of the surgeries or rehabilitation. St. Stephens Hospital contributes 50% of the cost, which includes the surgeon’s fees, operation theatre costs, and fees of the anesthesiologists. The Rotary grant 50% balance covers transportation of patients and their attendants (usually a parent) in a handicap accessible van, medications, calipers, and the physiotherapy and gait training required post surgery.
Through social workers, we see that the child is able to go to school or attain a suitable job. The Rehab Program works in close contact with WHO (National Polio Surveillance) which maintains a list of polio survivors. It also works closely with the RI D3010 Social Welfare Society and the Foundation of Rehabilitation of the Handicapped (FORTH) that provides social welfare to polio survivors.
The Matching Grant including 1 Rotary Club and 1 District in India, 1 Rotary District in Hong Kong, 2 Rotary Clubs in Hong Kong and 2 Rotary Clubs in Taipei was approved and funding sent to India. This project is still in progress.
Total project: $25,000.