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The Rotary Club of Jamestown, NY, has partnered with the Rotary Club of Karachi Sunset Millennium (District 3271) on a joint Rotary polio project for the rehabilitation and improvement of a Polio vaccination center at the Government Marwat Dispensary, Korangi District, Karachi, Pakistan. Located in a densely populated and low-income area of Karachi, this dispensary is providing health facilities to a huge population of the area through male and female OPD administering Polio vaccinations, COVID vaccinations and many health procedures for children.There are no toilets or drinking water, no proper seating for patients or furniture for staff and patients. The entire building lacks basic cleanliness, inside and out with failing building foundation and wall structure; the roof is in faulty condition and the windows are broken. The vaccination room equipment is in poor condition and the polio facilitation room is small and congested for the workers and supervisors during training and reporting sessions. Karachi Sunrise members met with the local Government officials who have ensured their cooperation and proper management of the center after improvement are made.
The Rotary Club of Karachi Sunset decided to support this health center by providing some basic improvements so that it can serve the community more effectively. The plan is to clean, repair and repaint the building and provide basic furniture and equipment for the vaccination rooms. Improvements will include a male and female toilet with a water supply for each stall and a clean drinking water filter unit. And finally, a fiberglass shed for visitors, concrete benches, wall-mounted fans and plantings of trees and shrubs in open spaces.
Improvements are estimated to cost $4600 which will be underwritten by the Rotary Club of Jamestown while the partner club "Karachi Sunset" supervises the physical improvements to the building.
Discussion between the two clubs began almost a year ago when the Jamestown club was searching for a polio prevention /eradication focused project. This project was most appropriate as Pakistan and its neighbor Afghanistan are the final nations with polio cases.
Now that construction has begun, plans are being made for Jamestown Rotarian David Troxell and his wife Marissa to visit Karachi for some of the construction and the formal opening celebration in early December. The Troxells have been instrumental in bringing several international projects to the Jamestown Club including school improvements in Cambodia, a school cafeteria in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, school improvements in Moshi, Tanzania, and a women’s weaving cooperative in Nepal, all in cooperation with other Rotary Clubs.
Watch closely for MORE information and photos in the next District newsletter.