District Governor Diane’s Message - April 1, 2017
Rotary Clubs around the world dedicate the month of April to making a difference in Maternal and Child Health. We have a long history of taking action in several areas:
- Developing or supporting programs that provide immunizations and antibiotics. Measles, malaria, pneumonia, AIDS and diarrhoeal diseases are still the leading cause of death in children under the age of five.
- Preventing mother-to-infant HIV transmission by encouraging the use of antiretroviral drugs and formula feeding.
- Promoting good nutrition.
- Including water, sanitation and hygiene efforts to maximize child nutrition. Diseases caused by contaminated water exacerbate malnutrition in children.
In your own communities our Clubs support programs to improve the lives of children and their families. As Bill and I have travelled the District we have seen Clubs supporting local breakfast programs at schools, back pack programs providing food for families over the weekend and support to groups of new mothers. Internationally you are helping with water and sanitation programs, birthing kits, hygiene kits, medical missions, education, health clinics and many more.
Our combined efforts are aimed at reducing the number of children under the age of five who die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care and poor sanitation- a figure that is currently estimated at 7 million.
Together, we are changing lives.
