News from the Rotary Doctor Bank

Issue no 4, 1999 -- English edition -- home

Page: -- Contents -- (1), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

• Poverty the worst
• Nordic championship
• This is what we will focus on

Poverty the worst

More and more die from "unnecessary" diseases

Why do so many people in Africa dream of leaving their country and coming to Europe? Many do more than dream-they do it. The reason is simple: poverty and disease, a terrible combination.

According to a UN report, some 1.3 million people live on less than one (US) dollar a day. Even more lack pure drinking water. Close to a third of the people south of the Sahara cannot expect to live longer than 40.

Is there no solution to these enormous problems? Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, director general of WHO, says:

"Malaria is the prime cause of poverty. Each day, 3000 children die in the disease, and every year another 500 million people are stricken."

In the previous issue, the Doctor Bank jeep-doctor Charlotte Almkvist reported that most of the 1187 patients she treated during her six weeks had malaria.

However, malaria and infections due to impure water are "unnecessary" diseases, because it is possible to protect oneself and to purify the water.

The Doctor Bank accomplishes this through mosquito nets, wells and "sun-purified" water in bottles.

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Nordic championship

More will see how our doctors work

Now we start something new, exciting and meaningful: the Nordic Rotary Championship, which will make it possible for the Doctor Bank to come and help yet more, while at the same time allow more from our Rotary clubs to see how our doctors work.

In September came the first "allowance" to the Doctor Bank from Laxå Rotary Club, in the form of 600 Crowns. If this represented one week's allowance from the club's 34 members, it means that each member donated 17.65 -- in reality some had perhaps put in ten, others twenty, and perhaps someone a hundred.

Here is in other words a way to provide substantial support to the Doctor Bank, and thereby to tens of thousands of poor people, without it even being noticed in the individual donor's pocket.

Here (above) we show in round numbers what has been received since 1 September 1999. And we look forward to quickly filling the bottle!

What happens when everyone participates?

How much would it become if all of Sweden's 30,000 Rotarians each gave 10 Crowns as an allowance? 15.6 million Crowns (approx USD 1.9 million)!

And what if all Nordic Rotarians did the same?

To this come all the donations from clubs and individuals (some 2 million Crowns last year).

Now we announce the Nordic Championship in allowances, donations and grants

When the collective allowance reaches 1 million Crowns, and donations and grants make another million, the club that has given the highest allowance per member may assign one of its members along with partner to accompany a doctor to Africa and see how the "Rotary Doctors" work. As each million mark is passed, new trips.

The goal is 15 million Crowns. This means that it can be 30 such trips for Rotarians.

Note: We count all allowances and donations received from 1 September 1999.

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This is what we will focus on

What will the Doctor Bank do when another 15 million Crowns come in, supplementing the current financing?

• Send out twice as many doctors and dentists (about 300 per year).
• Start more jeep-doctor relays.
• Educate many more "health workers". Increase education in above all hygiene.
• Provide all children up to 5 years old with mosquito nets against the deadly disease malaria in the areas where the Doctor Bank works.
• Have wells drilled or dug, and offer plastic bottles to families for "sun purifying" water. The goal is that none need drink impure water.
• Promote better conditions in the hospitals to which the Doctor Bank sends surgeons, orthopaedists, gynaecologists, ear specialists, eye specialists, and dentists.

All this under the motto:

People suffering disease accomplish little -- HEALTHY PEOPLE CAN ACCOMPLISH MUCH!