Dear District Leaders
Share the Facts
People need information about the vaccines and vaccination programmes that can be trusted. That is why the Governments need the support of Rotary to reach every nook and corner of India with facts and facilities. This is a time for facts, not fear. This is a time for rationality, not rumors. This is a time for solidarity, not stigma.
Innovation is a part of Rotary’s DNA and critical to achieving its strategic objectives. The task of the Rotary India’s Covid Task Force is to increase the pace of the vaccination drive and strengthen the Government’s objective of vaccinating everyone above 45 years in the days to come.
In this venture, RI District 3201 launched two vaccinating centers in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Government of Kerala. The Government is supplying the vaccines free of cost and also providing trained people to vaccinate the public. RC Kalamasery took the lead in the putting up the centre in Rotary Karmakendra, Vattekunnam and RC Alwaye took the lead in putting up the center in the Rotary Center for Senior Citizens, Pazhanganad.
Rotary volunteers are manning the centres and State Bank of India is helping with the registration process with computers and manpower. Aditya Birla Group has supported with funds for posters and banners to publicise this service. A third center is being set up at Rotary Balbhavan with RC Cochin being the lead club. A Covid ward in the Government hospital near Cochin will get ventilators and other medical equipment worth Rs.70 lakhs through a Global Grant.
I congratulate the efforts of the Rotarians and the guidance given by the District Governor Jose chacko Madhavassery and Zonal Co-ordinator PDG Sunil Zachariah of the Zone. We have to jointly work to make our programme sustainable and every Rotary Club can contribute towards this cause. Life saving vaccines supplied by the Government must reach the beneficiaries and today your initiative and support can make this happen.
You have to attract a diverse range of donors and investors in Rotary’s programme immediately. Donors must be told that vaccines are one of the most successful and cost-effective health investments in history and people need to get vaccinated for the wellbeing of everyone in the community. The level of advocacy must be stepped up and vaccine hesitancy must be addressed by you and other task force co-ordinators. To begin with, every Rotary club must proudly announce that all their eligible members and their spouses have been vaccinated and this will mean nearly 200,000 people belonging to Rotary have got the vaccine. Let’s do our best to strengthen the efforts of the Government in its fight against COVID. I know we can do and I I know we all SHALL do .Wish you all a very happy and colorful HOLI ….
