The Clarkston Rotary is well known for several local philanthropic endeavors; however, few individuals realize just how far reaching their goals travel.
From Nov. 13 to Nov. 27, three Clarkston Rotarians traveled to India to participate in the organization’s world-wide Polio vaccination drive.
District Governor Jeff Lichty, his wife Mary and Judy Livingston traveled with 25 other Rotarians from the U.S. and Canada to India on a missionary trip to erradicate Polio.
‘Since the 1980s, the Rotary has been trying to rid the world of Polio,? explained Livingston. ‘There is always some Rotary group somewhere doing the work.?
The trip’s two-week itinerary was packed: The group began in Delhi and then traveled to Muradabad, Chaundosi, Bareilly, Agra and Jaipur. They returned to Dehli to return home.
Rotarians in India publicized the Polio immunizations before the Americans and Canadians arrived. During the vaccination clinics, the Rotarians would set up a primary station in a local school to administer the two treatment drops, as well as travel around the area to find other children.
‘People knew we were coming because they put up posters and banners about it,? explained Livingston. ‘For the most part, they would come to us.?
‘You could tell who had the drops before,? she added. ‘The little ones would walk up with their head back and their mouths open. They knew how to do it. Every now and then you would have one where you needed to open the mouth or have the mother help you.?
The three Clarkston Rotarians mentioned the same story when describing their experience with the Polio vaccines. While a group was traveling the poorer urban area to administer the vaccines, a 5-year-old boy contacted the Rotarians and was able to communicate that a baby needed the drops. The young child led the group through the streets to a shabby, back-room apartment where a newborn awaited the life saving drops.
All three Rotarians were stunned by the moment.
‘He knew it was a good thing and that it was an important thing,? said Mary Lichty. ‘But to just think about how we helped keep that baby from a life of crawling ? it’s amazing.?
In addition to their vaccination duties, the Rotarians also visited two medical camps: a corrective surgery camp in Chaundosi and the Jaipur Limb camp, both Rotarian causes. The Clarkston Rotary was one of six U.S. groups working with six specific Rotary clubs in India to fund the limb camp.
At the limb camp, the visiting Rotarians would follow and assist one person from the moment of registration to the end of recovery. They would assist the individual with getting accustomed to their new limb and the beginning physical therapy.
‘Just watching somebody who could never walk, walk out of that limb camp ? it was memorable,? said Jeff Lichty ‘We were directly connected with that camp, to see some of our money directly at work made the experience that more special.?
The Rotarians were slightly more hands-off at the corrective surgery camp. By the time the visitors arrived, most of the children had already gone through surgery and were in recovery. The Rotarians visited with the children and provided them small items for entertainment.
As if participating in the vaccine clinics, traveling to the different camps and visiting the beautiful sights were not enough, the Rotarians also traveled to a leopard colony where they passed out sweaters and stopped by Mother Theresa’s home, now an orphanage, where they delivered clothing.
‘I appreciated doing this trip as a missionary,? said Livingston. ‘When you go to do something like this you realize how big Rotary really is.?