President Elect Dr Banuben Dhakan and Secretary Elect Dr Devangiben Vaishnav
attended PETS and SETS hosted by RC of Wacjhwan on 21st March 2010. PDG Dr
La Rathod, DGN Deepak Agrawal and Dr.Jatin Mody were faculty members
ROTARY INTERNATTON'AL NEWS
Rotary taps into clean water
By Ryan Hyland
Rotary International News - 22 March 2010
More than two million people die each year because they lack access to safe d drinking
water and proper sanitation.
To draw attention to the need for action. Rotarians join the world on 22 March to
observe World Water Day.
Established by the United Nations in 1992. Word Water Day high lights the increasing
demands being placed on the world's fresh water supplies. This year's theme "Clean
Water for a Health. World' focuses on the importance of water quality.
Water and sanitation issues are a top concern for Rotary clubs. says RI President
John Kenny. ln 2007. he was presented with the Presidents Award for Outstanding
Voluntary Service to Water Aid.
“I ask you particularly to focus on water and sanitation. as the. scarcity of clean water
is an increasingly serious issue in many parts of the world.” say's Kenny.
From 1978 through 2009, The Rotary Foundation awarded more than 4,900 grants
totaling US$52.7 million for water projects 'worldwide.
On World Water Day in 2009, Rotary lnternational launched an a liance with USAID
to implement long-term water, sanitation. and nygiene projects in the Dominican
Republic, Ghan and the Philippines.
NEWS AT RCRM
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Thirt six clubsin District9210(Malawi:parts of Mozambique; Zambia:Zimbabwe)
have 86 ongoing or recently completed projects to provide wells. water storage
and purification. irrigation. and toilets for improved sanitation. Those projects are
mostly at schools. clinics. or homes for children or the elderly.
•
Rotarians in District 3160 (India) handed
out water. filters to schools in seven villages
after flash floods in October polluted wells.
causing high alkaline levels.
•
In the Dominican Republic. members of 120
Canadian. Caribbean. and U.S. Rotary clubs
have helped bring 19,000 bio sand filters to
homes, schools. and clinics in 3OO
communities. providing clean water lo 10O,0O0 people. The filters, which cost
about US$60. can reduce the incidence of pediatric diarrhea by up to 45 percent.
•
Since 2006, Rotary clubs in Canada, Ghana, Switzerland, and the United States
have worked with the Ghana Health Service and the U.S. based Carter Center to
drill boreholes and install wells in more than 75 towns and villages in Ghana.
greatly reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases nationwide The cases of
Guinea worm have dropped from 4.136 in 2006 to 242 in 2O09
•
Rotarians From .districts 1620 and 2170 (Belgium) have collaborated with Rotary
clubs in District 9100 (West Africa) since 2005 to support a water project that
is benefiting 2O.OOO residents in Niger's Tchin-Tabaraden area Eighty clubs fron.
the 3e gian districts contributed more than •370.000 (US$503,000). with
•
additional support from two Rotary Foundation Matching Crants.Eighteen wells
were renovated and two new ones drilled for health centers and schools. Toilets
were built for seven schools and three health clinics.
