At the June 18 morning Rotary Club meeting, members received an update on the impressive activities of the International Service Committee. Committee Chair Steve Jambor outlined some of the exciting projects and he and his committee have been focused on. Steve's professional background is in medical devices and that knowledge was beneficial in spearheading a project in Uganda that provides ultrasound machines and training midwives in the use of those machines. Neonatal disorders is the number #1 cause of death in 8 countries including Uganda so this information is critical. The success of this work on a smaller scale led to the Committee's application for a $2 million Program of Scale grant from Rotary International that would train 1000 midwives in 20 nations. Unfortunately, the Program of Scale submittal came in second this year, but the the program will continue.
In addition to this effort, the International Service Committee supports work at AkTenamit in Guatemala -- a school and orphanage; Project Cure - sending medical equipment to Zambia, building wells to provide fresh water in Angola, and assisting local efforts to help refugee resettlement.