21 days
Rotary in Namibia
We have been working in the Kalahari for 17 years doing malaria prevention/education and have
identified an area where we can affect long term change and benefit to the locals in the desert. We
can prevent and treat trachoma with a small amount of education and medication twice a year.
Trachoma is highly contagious bacterial infection that is spread by flies and poor hygiene. We
travel the desert two track roads visiting schools and villages in the
e bush, there is a dearth of healthcare and the need is great. We have been able to verify that we
will conduct clinics at 7 different locations next year and will see at least 628 children, this
will increase by a third. Trachoma effects the children as they are the most vulnerable, they lack
the ability to keep the flies from getting in their eyes and their mothers don't understand the
need to keep their faces clean. Additionally, if one child is left untreated the entire village has
a chance to be infected again, it's an ongoing cycle that can be broken by 2 doses of Zithromax 6
months apart, or with a topical antibiotic administered 2 times daily for 6 weeks if they have an
advanced infection. The school teachers have agreed to administer the medications and teach a class
1 time per week on proper hygiene.
We are hoping that by applying medications and educationg the local teachers and parenents in the
proper treatment and prevention , we can breeak the cycle of this disease. The disease can
eventually case blindness in the affected population. Billings Downtown Rotary had more that one
Rotarian travel top Africa on malaria preventioin medecial trips but because of the travel expenses
it was found to be more cost effective to hire locals to help staff the clinics, and use the
savings to buy
more medcications.The closest Namibian Rotary Club is 200 miles away across the bush. This distance
in the past made it impractical to network with the local Rotarians on projects.
The project therefore has one Billings Rotarian owrking for 21 days stright in the Kalahari st
seven villages with two trained locals. They will treat the local population for this debilitating
disease. The team will treat 800-1000 patients that could eventaully end up blind withjout the
medciation and training in disease prevention.
The project will run form 5/1 to 6/1 2019 because of the need travel in the dry season.
Rotary District Grant Project Budget Billings Downtown Rotary Club 999 Trachoma Prevention and
Education
Expenses to be paid by Grant funds club funds Other funds Non cash (in
Medications 2500 2500
4 wheel drive
100/day 2100
Fuel 50/day 1050
Airfare to Africa 6500
2 local staff 2100
Food 50/day 1050
Rentals tents etc 1050
Rotarian Medical staff 10,500
Teaching materials 500
Totals 2500 2500 17,200 7,150
Total Project 29,350
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