1. Background.
In 2008, the Rotary Club of Fort Worth International supplied $3,000 worth of laboratory equipment to a small hospital in rural southeast Nigeria (Attached Photo) with a district matching grant of $1,500. The club raised the remaining $1,500. Janelle Kavanaugh (RCFW-East) and Hyacinth Onyekanne (RCFW-International) attended the dedication of the equipment at the maternity hospital in Urualla.
2. What additional needs were identified?
Following the receipt of the laboratory equipment and dedication, a letter of appreciation was received by RCFW-International from the hospital administrator reading, in part, as follows:
"This facility is in utter darkness during the night, during which we make use of lanterns. We have a small generator of 7KVA which is too small to carry the hospital load and it is over 12 years old (Photo). We have another one of about 37KVA (photo) that conveniently supplied light to the hospital but broke down over 15 years ago and we do not have the estimate US $3,000 to repair it."
3. How will the project meet the need?
The RCFW-International club members feel this over 15 year old generator is not economically repairable. Therefore we determined that a much newer 25KVA generator (See attached photo of proposed blue generator) would be preferable to replace the generator power of the older generator. This would leave the hospital the small 7KVA generator as a backup generator for the emergency room.
4. The timeline for the project?
Mr. Onyekanne, from RCFW-I, and at least one other (TBD) from RD 5790, will travel to Nigeria (at their own expense)on or about 12-1-14, to purchase, transport, and install the generator with the assistance of the hospital's electrical technician. They will also ensure the technician is trained and knowledgeable of the proper maintenance of the generator to assure system sustainability over time.
4. How are Club Members involved?
Members of RC Eastland, RCFW-East and RCFW-International have already collected $1200 toward the project. By 12-1-14 we will easily collect the balance. RCFW-International's member Mr. Onyekanne, Chairman of the Service Projects Committee, will lead the team of club and Distict members going to Urualla, Nigeria. They will ensure proper distribution of the funds, collect appropriate receipts, supervise purchase, transport, and installation of the intended generator. They will also take photos of each step of the activity to provide additional documentation. Upon return from Nigeria in December 2014, the RCFW-International Public Relations Chairman, Valerie Riefenstahl, will prepare and publish the project results in appropriate media including the District 5790 Newsletter. Finally, the RCFW-International President, Michael Chase, will prepare final reporting of District Grant requirements in accordance with the MOU no later than 2-1-15.
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