If ever you thought you didn't have enough of the next toy or the newest car or the nice dress in the window - experience a Polio Immunization Day. It is the most amazingly exhilarating and dramatically humbling experience of this person's life. Children with little if anything, dirty hands, dirty feet, runny noses in the arms of mother's with deep concern for the health of their child hurrying to put their child in front of you for those life saving two drops of vaccine.
Our first stop today was in the streets of a village. Polio stations were set up and already children had been vaccinated prior to us getting there. Immediately we were poured on by people wanting their children vaccinated. No time to ponder. Just two drops in each child's mouth and a permanent marker on the finger to show they'd been done - an then a treat for each child. Many were things my fellow workers at OCIO donated. The mothers were so happy their child was treated.
One father came back we figure at least 7 to 8 times with children - all under five.
We visited four other stations before finishing at 1250 and heading back to the farm to meet the various teams.
From here I cannot upload pictures but I've taken lots to put up when we find a suitable stations to download so you can see. Many with actual drops being given and more with pictures of the hundreds of children.
We met some amazing Indian Rotarians today - some totally committed citizens of India who are working so hard to improve conditions for the people here. I cannot wait to write more.
I will write more but for now - this has been the trip of a lifetime and one I will speak about for a long long time.
Mark Brown
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