John Bathurst introduced Gabor Gasztonyi, our speaker. Gabor really is a person who is a strong proponent of ending polio programs. He himself, contracted polio as a child so knows first-hand how devastating this disease is. Aside from that Gabor is an exceptional photographer, specializing in black & white images.
CLICK HERE to take a look at his website.
Gabor is a member of the Rotary Club of New Westminster. Their club has organized an annual polio walk in New Westminster. Unfortunately, due to COVID this year’s walk was a no-go. That said they have raised about $24,000 for polio, combined with the Gates Foundation contribution amounts to about $100,000!
Gabor has a connection to Ethiopia. He went there on a trip with Rotary, not realizing at the time that children today still contract the disease. He shared many pictures that told the story of the children.
1988 there were about 388K cases of polio worldwide. This fell by a reported 99% to a total of 407 cases in 2013. Now, in 2020, there are only two countries with active cases of the wild polio virus, Afghanistan and Pakistan. We are so very close but need to keep working. Even a few cases can bring about wider spread easily.
In 2015 Ethiopia was declared polio free. They planted (Gabor was part of the group) indigenous trees in celebration of this. Africa as a whole declared polio free in August 2020, an amazing accomplishment.
Polio affects everyone differently. Destroys muscles at varying rates.
Not being able use your muscles, mobility is obviously affected. One thing not talked about much is the childhood trauma. These children are not only affected physically but mentally as well. The mental trauma is more difficult to overcome. In Africa this is huge; having a child like this is considered a curse on the family. Though loved by their parents, these children are never really considered to be part of the family/community. A big problem.
Gabor was lucky that he was able to stay in Haile Selassie Residence beside the children’s hospital during one of his visits. He stayed in same bed Mother Theresa did!
There are all sorts of things people can do to support young people with polio. Any Rotarian can put in for a grant, it doesn’t have to be a club or a club committee. An example is the Basic Rehabilitation Training for Mother’s of Children with Polio & Other Developmental Disabilities sponsored by Rotary. Rotary does follow up to be sure projects are running effectively.
There is a relationship between polio and COVID-19, in that the immunization process developed for polio, with such an incredible polio network, it will benefit and be used to distribute COVID-19 immunization when the time comes. This is a truly amazing humanitarian accomplishment thanks to Rotary.
On a different note, though related due to subject matter, Gabor was the 2016 Rotary photo contest winner. It’s so important to see what’s inside an individual, he attempts to capture it through his photography.
In closing, Rotary has elevated Gabor’s sense of the world and how we, as individuals, can make a real difference. End polio now!!
