International Project - Emergency Generator for Immaculate Hospital, Uresella, Imo, Nigeria
Posted by John Pokorny
on Nov 02, 2012
Lewisville Morning Rotary is preparing a TRF grant request to purchase a 45 kW emergency Generator for a 30 bed hospital in Uresella, Imo, Nigeria.
The Lewisville Morning Rotary Club and it's members have always been very generous in supporting The Rotary Foundation (TRF). We have a proud heritage of giving financially. We are among the top 5 clubs in our district on a dollars per member basis. Our strategic plan calls for being 100% Paul Harris Fellows by the 2015 Rotary Year. As of today, 78% of our membership has given over $1000 to the Rotary Foundation.
Why do we give? We give because we are humanitarians that support the Foundations six a six areas of focus. Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution, Disease Prevention and Treatment, Water and Sanitation, Maternal and Child Health, Basic Education and Literacy, Economic and Community Development.
Our club members have shared the joy of giving dictionaries to 3rd graders in 10 elementary schools in Lewisville ISD. That project was funded in part by a matching grant from The Rotary Foundation.
Now we have an even greater challenge to serve the health and maternity needs of patients in a rural part of Nigeria. Can you imagine delivering a baby by the light of a kerosene lamp? Can you imagine performing surgical procedures without electricity? Can you imagine a night nurse performing night rounds in the dark with only a flashlight? For us in Texas, the answer is no. We can't imagine it. Because unless there is a major storm, the power is always available. Unfortunately, in the state of Imo in the country of Nigeria, power outages are a daily occurrence and can last for days.
Last August we were approached by a member of the Fort Worth International Rotary club to partner with them and the Rotary Club of Owierri (in Nigeria) in funding the purchase and installation of a 45 kW emergency generator for the Immaculate Heart Hospital and Maternity. Fellow Rotarians had been to this hospital two year ago delivering equipment for their medical lab. They became aware of the electrical power issue and knew Rotary had to do something.
Can we do it? Yes we can! We have secured financial commitments from 5 other clubs and at least 3 other clubs are considering a financial support (one from as far away as Ohio). These clubs will raise $8,600 which will be matched by Rotary Districts 5790 and 9140 District Designated funds and funds from The Rotary Foundation to fund the $25.000 needed to install the generator.
Our club is fortunate because two of it's members are experienced in healthcare engineering. We have been able to provide guidance for the project to assure the generator meets the patient care needs well into the future and that folks are trained in maintaining the equipment.
The photo's above provide a flavor for the operating conditions in this part of the world. The 7.5 kW generator in the bottom photo is the only source of power during the almost continual power outages. That only provides power for a small part of the surgical area.
Clearly this project will serve at least two of the five areas of focus where Rotary seeks to serve the world, Maternal Health and Disease Prevention and Treatment. What a great way for our Rotary Clubs to serve the needs of folks in a remote part of world. With the help of TRF we can make the world a better place for all! We are the Rotary Foundation in action.
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