Kathy Anderson has shared the photos above of her friend who has just been working with children and families in Mogadishu Somalia with UNICEF.

They are very concerned about the low polio vaccination rates in Somalia with the wild polio cases in Malawi and Mozambique.

Kathy thought that putting this information in the club might help reinforce Jim Hudson’s call for donations to the polio fund.

Rotary International are still searching for that elusive total of US$50million by June 30 – to ensure Rotary earns the 2:1 match from the Gates Foundation.

It is up to individual club members to heed Jim’s call for funds.

Thank you for sharing this Kathy. The article from the Unicef website is below:

Round 2: The fight against polio continues in Somalia

Today, Somalia is launching the Round 2 Polio Vaccination Campaign with a target to reach 3.5 million children below 5 years of age.

There is strong evidence that the polio virus is circulating in Somalia, with new cases and environmental samples detected; including confirmed cases from neighboring countries. With low routine immunization coverage and a high concentration of people in Internally Displaced Person's camps due to the recent drought and the transmission characteristics of the wild polio virus.

Polio was detected in Malawi earlier this year and that puts Somalia at a greater risk of an outbreak and further exacerbates the spread of diseases such as polio and measles.

The Ministry of Health and partners are planning to conduct integrated campaigns composed of Polio, Measles, Vitamin A supplementation and deworming. UNICEF is supporting with extensive cold chain and vaccine management to ensure that quality polio vaccines are readily available.

Health systems throughout the world have been rapidly overwhelmed and compromised by the COVID-19 crisis. In Somalia, coupled with drought, access, insecurity and pastoralists movements; essential health services and routine immunization programmes that are normally strengthened by supplementary immunization activities and national campaigns have been severely affected.

Speaking at the launch, UNICEF's Representative to Somalia, Angela Kearney, said “The polio vaccine is safe, effective. I can assure you that a high coverage is the surest way to prevent polio and the debilitating effect on our children.”

Today, vaccines are estimated to be one of the most cost-effective means of advancing global welfare. We should make sure that Somalia’s children are able to walk, play, dance and learn. Data shows us that, vaccinated children do better at school, with economic benefits that ripple across their communities.

The polio vaccination campaign is possible thanks to donors like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Rotary International.

For the winter of 2026 Rotary with logistics assistance from Kuehne+Nagel imported 1,000 shelterbags into New Zealand to provide comfort and seek to restore dignity to the growing number of rough sleepers in our communities. The Shelterbags have been well received by the social agencies who deal directly with these people that Rotary has partnered with.  Particularly given the onset of a very cold winter, these agencies who already have trusted relationships with rough sleepers, can now offer a shelterbag along with other wrap around support.

We understand however that at the time of the 2023 census there were around 5,000 people across New Zealand who were recognised as homeless.  Since then, we understand that number is now more than 5,000.  The 1,000 shelterbags delivered are a great start but we need more.

 We want to raise sufficient money for another shipment and need Rotary clubs, members and wide public support to make it happen.

This project provides practical assistance to address an issue that otherwise individuals can sympathise with but are at a loss as to what they can practically do or achieve. 

Based on the unmet further need, the aim is to bring a full container of 1,200 bags into New Zealand by next winter.

 Donations should be made Account Name & No.: ROZOPS Limited 06-0193-0905286-007 with email to operations-manager@rotaryoceania.zone  advising payment and address to send receipt to.

 Clubs’ charitable trusts can make a direct donation without invoice to avoid adding GST to the bill (ROZOPS is GST registered and invoices require GST to be added – direct donations avoid this)

Private donations receive a registered charity donation receipt to claim 33% back from IRD.

Key Contacts for further information:

Malcolm Stapleton      mjds@babbage.co.nz

Len Houwers                  len.houwers@aretelimited.com

Listen to the RNZ Interview here.

The first two official Peace Poles were installed in Christchurch at the Bridgestone Reserve at the Papanui Bush in Christchurch  on 22^nd March 2025.

PDG Liz Courtney is leading the charge to have Rotary Peace Poles across New Zealand and the Pacific Islands to demonstrate that Rotary is invested in PEACE.

It’s the perfect way for clubs to engage with their local community and create a partnership with Bunnings or Mitre 10 or hardware suppliers in their area. I was supplied the timber, metal stand and concrete by our local Papanui Mitre 10 Mega store who were delighted to sponsor this project. We invited them to attend the ceremony and presented them with a certificate of appreciation which is displayed in their store.

Make contact with Heidi https://www.peacepolesoceania.com/about-1 and learn more about Peace Poles. They are a cost effective way for Rotary clubs to be visible.

One of Rotary’s Areas of Focus is Child and Maternal Health. After 4 years of planning and fundraising the first Rotary Community Breast Milk Bank was launched in June 2018 at St. George’s Hospital who agreed to support this Rotary project.

The World Health Organisation says that human donor milk is the next best thing for babies after it’s own mother’s milk and states that human milk banks should be made available everywhere.

 WATCH VIDEO HERE

The benefits are huge as follows;
It protects against sudden infant syndrome, diabetes, allergic diseases and chronic gut illnesses.

It protects babies from chest, ear and bladder infections because of factors in the milk and ongoing support for the immune system.

Why do we some women need this help ?
Some cannot breast feed due to illness, operations, or some medications. The ideal is to be able to breast feed for the first 6-8 weeks of life to give that immunity to a baby.

It costs $30K a year to run this free service and 4 Rotary clubs, donations from several Trusts and the public have been generous in their support. We are wanting to grow this service throughout the South Island.

To date we have helped over 1500+ babies, 98 women have donated their milk and 70 volunteers run the 5 day, 2 hours per day service.

Rotary is helping to grow the next generation of New Zealanders.