For the first time in many years, District 6420 is the lead International District on a Global Grant Project. Working with the Rotary Club of San Juan, Puerto Rico (the host club), we have recently received approval from the Rotary Foundation for a $199,500 project to eradicate mosquitoes from the island of Culebra in Puerto Rico. Funding for this project includes $75,000 in District Designated Funds (DDF) from District 6420 which was matched by the Rotary Foundation. Please remember that the District builds up DDF (which can be used to support not only Global Grants, but also District Grants, Peace Scholars, and Vocational Training Teams) based on your annual contributions to the Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund.
The Aedas aegypti mosquitoes spread several tropical diseases including dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. A community assessment conducted in preparation for this Global Grant identified multiple breeding sites throughout the island of Culebra including tires, abandoned/defective septic tanks, and abandoned boats from Hurricane Marie, plus smaller containers such as buckets, trash cans, flower pots, and kitchen utensils. Residents of Culebra are also known to store water because of irregular water service. While community clean-up campaigns occur every year or so, the municipal emergency management district in Culebra does not have a vector control program, no mosquito surveillance is conducted, and no ongoing community education about Aedes aegypti takes place. With this Global Grant, the Puerto Rico Vector Control Unit will be supported to provide training and education for community members, mosquito surveillance, reduction of mosquito breeding sites, and targeted application of larvicide with the hope of eliminating Aedas aegypti mosquitoes from Culebra within two years. With the project’s success, it is possible this project could serve as a model for mosquito eradication in other tropical islands.
If you are interested in learning more about this exciting new Global Grant, please contact DGN Laura Kann (at 678-315-2406 or LKK1@comcast.net). The San Juan Rotary Club has offered to host District 6420 Rotarians who wish to visit the project and see mosquito eradication in action.