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| Her Smile welcomed us to her community. |
Many a times, we feel
that it is only when we have money that we can make people happy; well it is
not always true as we have already established that cash is just one aspect of
money. The world suffers today because we continue to deny other people the
chance to smile by withholding from them our love and our care. Love not
expressed is not love at all.
For the past 8 years, I
have been a proud member the largest network of volunteers – The Rotary Family,
whose business is mankind. From education to environment, community development
to peace & conflict resolution to water and health, we continue to affect
positively the lives of billions around the world, yet we all less than 2
million.
As a Rotaractor, [The
Rotaract Club is a youth program of Rotary International], I have enjoyed these
8 years, more especially the last 12 months [July 2013 - 2014] as I did serve
as President of my club, The Rotaract Club of Amuwo Main. As I prepare to hand
over the reins of leadership come 30th June [the presidency is a one
year term. No 2nd terms no matter how good you are; others must be
given opportunity to also make impact], I look back on the things we did and I
am compelled to share this remarkable personal experience with you. It is with
regards to Rotary’s campaign against Polio.
The fight against polio
is almost won; the sight and feeling of victory continue to boost more efforts
to ensure its total eradication. Since
1986 when the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched, Rotary has
expended over 10 Billion Dollars, immunizing more than 2.5 Billion children and
saving them from potential dangers.
Despite concerted efforts by Rotary, governments and other NGOs, Polio
still exists in 3 countries – Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.
In Nigeria, the
campaign against Polio is top priority and “Nigeria has no business being among
countries that are yet to eradicate polio”, so says Dr. Abdulraham Tunji Funsho,
Chair, Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee. About 2 cases reported in Nigeria
this year and this can be attributed to Rotary’s commitment particularly by
District 9110, Nigeria and indeed the Rotary Club of Amuwo in carrying out mop
up immunization campaigns in the riverine areas of Ojo Local Government Area of
Lagos State.
It was in one
monitoring exercise together with Immunization officials from the LGA, in Irewe
and Oko Babatope communities that I had the opportunity to appreciate the level
of work done by Rotary in the fight against Polio. The team also included
members of my club. The journey to these
communities took almost forty five minutes boat ride and by the time we got
there, we had villagers anxiously waiting to get their children immunized. [the first experience had been in October of
2012 during the West African Project Fair, held in Lagos Nigeria, when
Rotarians from USA, Israel, and other African countries embarked on a hands on
project,. The Rotaract Club of Amuwo Main and the Interact Club of Dr. Soyemi
both sponsored by RC Amuwo were the only Youth Service members present; we had
the rare privilege of participating in an international project with RI
Director Gideon Peiper]
The community clinic
was filled with willing mothers and their children, singing and dancing in
their local Yoruba dialect, praising the visitors and appreciating them for
their kind gestures. It was a most defining moment for me and thus shaped my
understanding of what Rotary and Rotaract really stands for. Giving the
vaccines to over a hundred children and knowing that we had hope to a
generation of kids brought a certain fulfillment in me and further made realize
that Rotary is all about leaving smiles in communities because we can.
Today, I charge you,
reach out, lend a hand, build bridges, connect communities, embrace people,
make dreams real, share love, and leave similes and as you do so may the odds
always be in your favour.
#Rotary #Rotaract
#Learn #Serve #Socialize #Impact
PS
Nigeria is on the verge of being certified a Polio free country in 2017.
OjisiEmezie
Speaker,
Compere, Volunteer.
Think
it! Believe it! Work at it! Achieve it!
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