The following report was received from Rotary Melbourne member Ruth Carlos-Martinez, International Programs.
Rotary Imagined in Lockdown, Took Action, Saved Lives
The global Covid 19 lockdown did not deter Rotarians to save lives. The Philippines Covid-19 pandemic crisis claimed 3,623 lives, with 226,000 respiratory virus illnesses, ie, influenza, SARS, Avian flu and greatly affected the 487,414 inhabitants of Occidental Mindoro’s 11 municipalities. The province is bordered on the west by the South China Sea, and mainland Philippines to the east.
In October 2021, Rotary Club of Lubang Island (RCLI), past Clean Water Pipeline Distribution project partner of the Rotary Club of Melbourne (RCM) contacted Melbourne Rotary to partner on a Rotary Foundation $US36,000 global grant for a medical biotechnology van facility that incorporate a Medical Mitigation Platform (MMP). Similar was used in Singapore's 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS); Swine Origin Influenza (H1N1); Avian Flu (H1N7).
Implemented in April 2022, photos show RCLI Rotarians and San Jose District Hospital medical staff conduct training in Sanitation & Health, with operating manuals written by Melbourne Rotary. At the height of Covid, Melbourne Rotary, progressively worked on the policy guidelines, governance and implementation with local and health authorities, to ensure the sustainability of the unit and that WHO hygiene standards are kept. In line with Rotary’s, Fighting Disease program, the van screen, swab sample, vaccinate to save lives. It also mitigated the risks of exposure to front liners and medical staff, as it remove the delays in getting samples from Patient Under Investigation to the hospital. As a value add, RCLI, initiated the construction of a Clean Water distribution and Wash Station system at the San Jose District Hospital.
It is fitting to note, that during lockdown, Rotarians IMAGINED to assist in Fighting Disease, and went into immediate action which resulted in saving lives.
