A General Message from District:-
You probably know that Rotary came to Australia in 1921 with the chartering of our first Australian club, the Rotary Club of Melbourne. Eliminating Trachoma in Australia by 2020 has been chosen as one important way to mark this historic milestone. This important project is endorsed by the 2017-18 RI President Australian Ian Riseley and Zone Director Noel Trevaskis as a project all Australian Rotarians should get behind.
EndTrachoma by 2020 is not run by any one Rotary Club; it is a project for all clubs in the country, in every Rotary District of Australia. The Project Coordinator is Lien Trinh, an optometrist and former Rotary Foundation Global Scholar.
Australia remains the only first world nation where Trachoma still persists, prevalent in a number of our remote indigenous communities. Trachoma is a bacterial infection of the eye that is easily preventable with basic hygiene practices, but if left untreated, can cause blindness. The Australian government works with Indigenous Eye Health, the Fred Hollows Foundation and others to treat the disease with surgery and antibiotics. The long-term solution though, rests with hygiene and education and this is where Rotary’s Trachoma project has a role.
EndTrachoma by 2020 is working with Aboriginal communities to educate and build capabilities to improve hygiene practices, which will prevent Trachoma and lead to better health and well-being. Doing this is a slow process, but will be most effective and sustainable as each solution is tailored to individual community needs.
Lien is confident that Trachoma can be eliminated by 2020 but there is a lot of work to be done. Assistance from as many Australian clubs as possible is needed. Your club and other clubs in our District can make a significant difference to indigenous eye health by supporting this project.
In February 2018, a series of live Facebook videos will run on the EndTrachoma Facebook page to help explain the problem and outline opportunities of service for clubs. I encourage you and your members to promote and view these videos to better understand trachoma and the project, and then perhaps take the opportunity to participate to help end trachoma.
The series is scheduled to start on Monday 19 February 2018 at 5 pm AEDT and will continue daily for 7 days. A line-up of international and specialist speakers have been arranged, including RI President Ian Riseley. Each video will run for only 10 minutes or so, and will also be available for viewing after the session on the EndTrachoma by 2020 Facebook page. Questions are welcome before, during and after each video; the project team will endeavor to respond as quickly as possible. More information will be available regarding the series in early 2018.
The best way to stay informed about the project is to subscribe to the website www.endtrachoma2020.org.au, and ‘LIKE’ and ‘FOLLOW’ their Facebook page www.facebook.com/endtrachomaby2020.
DG Peter