| I was privileged to be one of the team during the huge Kenya Mission in September 2008. It brought home to me the esteem and respect in which RI is held by non-Rotarians. It has a reputation that we must guard and enhance at all costs.
The purpose of the mission was to identify and treat AIDS victims. To attract them we offered free medical, optical and dental treatment to children and to females up to the age of 25. I met AIDS-sufferers, orphans and young mothers who had nothing. To see the immediate impact on the quality of their lives as we delivered the medical, optical and dental services was truly rewarding. MOMENTS THAT TOUCHED YOUR HEART . . . A young man was brought in with multiple lacerations to his neck and torso, the victim of a knife attack. His needs were beyond the simple resources we had at the camp so we med-evacced him in a 4×4 (SUV) to the nearest Emergency Room. Sadly his injuries proved fatal. Thomas was a 12 year old who arrived in the clinic rolling his eyes in agony and clutching his stomach. “Where does it hurt?” asked the nurse. “It’s my stomach, doctor.” “When did the pain start?” “Err, tomorrow.” Thomas wanted some medication – any medication – that he could sell as soon as he was out of the camp! The triage nurses spotted a girl of about 8 years wandering about totally lost and her spirits obviously broken. On her back was an 18 month old infant. On investigation they were the two survivors of their family. Father had gone, mother died of AIDS and the girl was doing her best to care for the infant. DIGNITY AND PRIDE . . . THE OUTCOME . . . RFFA was one of the initiators of the mission and one of the principal mobilisation partners. This really was Rotary Service of the highest order. Peter Sotheran |
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Dear Peter, It was a fortunate day when you came on board to direct the logistical operations of the RFFA-initiated Kenya Medical Mission a year and a half ago. That is the power and wonder of Rotary, isn’t it — when we all get together from around the world to make something really great happen, like the Kenya mission? But it clearly needed leadership in getting it all organized as well as the leadership you provided on the ground during the mission. You are a diplomat of the First Order, you have been a great supporter of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children of Africa, and you have always supported us at RFFA. Bless you, Your Friend in Rotary Service, Marion