ROTARY’S IMPACT – TAKING THE HOSPITAL TO THE PEOPLE

Rotarians attend the 100th project of the Lifeline Express

Thanks to the generous support of Rotarians and others, the Lifeline Express hospital train in India has been kept on the rails to take medical care and surgery to remote rural communities where few people have even seen a doctor.

The train's old coaches were well-used and becoming unsafe to operate so Rotary Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland stepped in to help us renovate and equip five brand new coaches which had been donated by the Ministry of Railways. The extra coach has greatly increased operating capacity and will act as a stand alone clinic in emergency situations.

Peter Offer with children in India In April 2008, a delegation of Rotarians led by Past President Peter Offer attended the 100th project of the 'Magic Train' (as it is known locally) to see for themselves how your support has been translated into practical action. Mr. Offer cut the ribbon to inaugurate the project.

The 100th project was held at Atgaon Railway Station in Maharashtra State where the train was shunted into sidings so that the medical team on board could restore sight, hearing and mobility and repair disfiguring cleft lip. On an average day of eye surgery, 80-100 operations are conducted which means 80-100 lives transformed as people can not only see once more, but can also return to work and support their families.

The new Lifeline Express hospital train We are truly grateful to Clubs and Districts which have not only supported the Lifeline Express but so many of our other projects including the 'Jibon Tari' floating hospital in Bangladesh; establishing school bakeries in The Philippines; providing safe water in Kenya; equipping health workers with Optyse© ophthalmoscopes in Cambodia, Kenya, India and The Philippines; providing a mobile clinic and restoring children's sight in India; and in countless other ways.

Many Clubs are still working hard to raise money to help us prevent and treat needless disability in some of the world's poorest communities.

IMPACT was founded by Rotarian Sir John Wilson CBE DL in the early 1980s and has had close links with Rotary ever since. For example, many of the volunteer surgeons who work in our projects are Rotarians.

Download IMPACT's latest newsletter (click here for PDF version) (click here for Text only version)

Peter Offer I was delighted when the District Governors in RIBI for 2006/2007 adopted IMPACT as one of their preferred projects. My history with Sir John and Lady Wilson goes back many years when I was both Club and District International Chairman, and involved with eye camps in India.

Today IMPACT has grown, and is not only restoring sight, movement or hearing to many, but giving medical help to those who are unable to get to a medical centre. IMPACT UK is headed by Sir John’s daughter Claire Hicks, and the IMPACT federation crosses many boundaries with a train running through India, plus education and medical centres in Nepal, The Philippines, Sri Lanka and parts of East Africa.

Past RI Director Keith Barnard-Jones is looking after Rotary’s effort this year, and he joined me together with PDG’s Himansu Basu, RIBI International Chairman Keith Paver, and District Governors 2006-2007 Steve Munns and David Langley on a trip to Bangladesh to see for ourselves the work IMPACT is doing in that country. From their hospital ship to the training of health workers and home gardens, we were left with great admiration for the work they are achieving.

We hope, that with the help that Rotarians in Great Britain and Ireland can give, Rotary can ‘LEAD THE WAY’ and support IMPACT in helping even more that so desperately need it.

Peter L. Offer, President 2006-2007
Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland.

How your Club can help:

Raise money to purchase medical equipment, fund operations to restore sight, movement or hearing or help us prevent disability

Join together with other Clubs in your District to sponsor a whole project to ‘take the hospital to the people’