1 November 2009
Arusha — If you were on the streets of Arusha before 10am last Saturday, you might have witnessed, most appropriately, a children's band leading over 100 Rotarians and friends of Rotary through Arusha town.
Led by the Hon. MP for Arusha, Mr.Felix Mrema and the Rotary District Governor, Tadesse Alemu from Ethiopia, all wearing Tee shirts donated by Bushbuck safaris, the walk was to remind us that the fight to protect children worldwide from the cruel and fatal consequences of polio is still on.
It is a reminder that Polio is right on our borders in Kenya and Uganda.
Polio does not discriminate. Black or White; Rich or Poor - President Roosevelt, President of USA and from one of the richest families in the world, was a victim.
Rotary International President, Jim Bomer, administered the first two drops on a little girls tongue, he noticed the tears in the mother's eyes, then he felt a tug at his trouser leg, looking down he saw one of the crawlers paralysed by polio. Thank you, the little boy said, thank you, thank you - he paused searching for a word 'Rotary' then he lifted his withered arm , 'my sister he said with a proud smile..
Polio Plus is not just about raising money, it is about saving lives, protecting babies to improve their lives. It is about 20 million volunteers in 200 countries who have vaccinated over 2 billion children in the past 24 years.
It is about a fight to save children from an early death or a life time of braces.
For every one of those who understand there is a mother, father, brother, sister saying in 100 different languages "Thank you Rotary' just like that little boy did when the drops were placed on his sister's tongue.
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