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Dear District Governors,
We hoped that 2021 would bring us relief from the virus sweeping through
the world. Unfortunately, the horrifying second wave in India and the
worsening situation in Brazil leaves us disconsolate. There is not a region
which remains unscathed.
The development and distribution of vaccines brought hope, promise and a
vision of a return to normalcy in some parts of the world. Unfortunately,
much of the world is lagging far behind, aggravated by the recent outbreaks
that are helping to drive daily infections worldwide to their highest
levels yet.
With new cases topping 400,000 a day, a critical oxygen shortage, lack of
hospital beds, and a mounting death toll, the situation in India shows no
sign of waning, and help is urgently needed. Likewise, Brazil and numerous
other countries are facing some of the same issues and there is great need
for support.
We are calling on District Governors to provide assistance by sending
supplies and equipment, such as oxygen concentrators and ventilators and
anything else they require. We encourage you to work with clubs in your
district and coordinate with Rotary clubs in the country in need to
facilitate an in-kind donation of supplies, and coordinate shipping--either
through a private company or paying to have supplies shipped yourself. You
can also establish a joint effort by partnering with other clubs,
districts, or local organizations.
Districts, clubs and members have already leapt into action by providing
critical supplies and services, and thinking outside of the box to assist
India, as well as Brazil. Examples include:
- Rotary District 6400 and the Rotary Club of Essex
are partnering with Rotary India’s COVID Task Force to coordinate
donations that will go toward supplying oxygen concentrators.
- Rotary District 6900 is partnering with other
organizations, including UPS, to ship medical equipment such as
ventilators, anesthesia machines, oxygen and respiratory supplies to
India.
- The Rotary Club of Madras donated two 8-foot
refrigerated trucks able to transport 2 million doses of vaccine, and
Rotary Clubs in Kerala State have reported nearly 51,000 free
vaccinations through Rotary Centers and camps over the last three
weeks.
- Rotarians in the United States are procuring and
sending equipment to India. A club in Rockford, Illinois coordinated
with a private aerospace company to send equipment via jet.
- A Rotary Youth Exchange alumni association has
initiated a crowdfunding campaign to procure 50 oxygen concentrators.
- In Brazil, Rotary members are looking into
ways to improve the vaccine cold chain to better distribute COVID-19
vaccines, and help is needed to support the funding of refrigeration
equipment.
As Rotarians, we have come together in the
name of service to support communities in inspiring ways throughout the
COVID-19 pandemic. We are asking you to dig deeper and help India and other
countries in need to find the light at the end of the tunnel and overcome
the current wave of infections.
Thank you,
Holger Knaack, Rotary International President
K.R. “Ravi” Ravindran, TRF Trustee Chair
CC: RI Board of Directors & Directors-elect, TRF Board of
Trustees & incoming Trustees and District Governors-elect
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