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The Link VOLUME 2—ISSUE 35

Weekly Newsletter of the Rotary Club of Durban North

www.facebook.com/RotaryClub.DurbanNorth

7 April 2016

APRIL IS …...MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH MONTH

Maternal & Child Health Rotary International Priorities Maternal and child health is one of five priority areas identified by Rotary International for Rotary development initiatives. Theses priority topics also align with some of the Millenni-um Development Goals articulated by the WHO. Maternal and child health interfaces closely with the other four pri-orities: 1) promoting peace 2) fighting disease and poverty 3) providing clean water and 4) supporting education. All five areas of focus relate to the need for a healthy population in a safe and healthy community to ensure optimal development of all.

How Do These Areas Relate? In conflict areas, women & children are frequently innocent victims of dispute, warfare and at times have to relocate, especially in areas where women do not have equal rights. Disruption to family life is unimaginable. Quality of life im-proves for individuals and families if the burden of disease is reduced through public health programs that provide access to trained health care professionals, immunization and other preventative care. Ready access to clean water and improved sanitation can not only reduce disease, but also means that women and children can engage in activities other than hauling water by hand over long distances. Women and mothers can be more productive and children can attend school if clean water sources are close to homes, schools and community locations.

What Are Some of the Issues? Morbidity and mortality among mothers and child are major challenges in developing countries. One of the most criti-cal aspects that contributes to high rates of mortality and morbidity relates to reproduction-namely, health outcomes during pregnancy, labour, delivery and after the birth of a child. Sub-Saharan Africa is the most dangerous place in the world to have a baby. In Europe the lifetime risk of dying during pregnancy is one in 3,300: in Africa, the lifetime risk is an astonishingly one in 40. Furthermore, young women are more likely to have complications during pregnancy and delivery. In many developing countries, there is a higher likeli-hood of pregnancy among young teens. up to 800 women die each day related to complications in pregnancy & child-birth. Among children, 6.3 million under the age of five years died in 2013; this translates to nearly 17,000 every day. Many of these deaths could have been prevented with access to clean water and sanitation facilities, adequate health facilities and professionals, immunization programs and medicines to treat disease. Each year, seven million children under the age of five die due to malnutrition, poor health care and inadequate sanitation.

What Can Your Club Do? Every effort can make a difference. Identify an area of focus that is important to your club and start fund raising, net-working and partnering with other Rotary Clubs-here in the District, across Canada and in developing countries. Partnering with reputable international agencies that have resources on the ground can facilitate quality implementa-tion of programs that can be evaluated. Some examples include: - providing immunization & antibiotics - promoting good nutrition - preventing maternal/child transmission of HIV/AIDS - improving access to prenatal care-provide birthing kits - supporting accredited training of health care providers - Improving knowledge about reproductive health through community education & access to health facili ties and care providers. Extract from communication by R Howlett, PhD Area Coordinator for Maternal/Child Health

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Anja Timm— This is me

Our exchange student Anja Timm who hails from Omro in Wis-

consin gave a great “This is Me”. presentation . “This is Me”. She

showed us photos of her life back home and also what she has

been doing while on exchange.

David Thornten, a fellow

Rotarian from Norwich in

the UK, visited our Club

last night, and is seen here

exchanging Club banners

with our President Alma

Maxwell.

On an outing with Makabong-

we Methodist Pre-School,

where her host mother , The-

resa Lukan, is the principal

Anja before she left for South

Africa

Anja at the Mandela Cap-

ture Site—On route to Cape

Town with all the other stu-

dents

Anja says farewell to her

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Rotary Club of Durban North

Life Skills Programme

April-June 2016

A reminder that the first Life Skills course for 2016 will start on 16 April 2016. Jason has called for volunteers to assist with teas and eats for the participants. If you know of anyone who would like to attend, please con-tact Jason Stevens Below is a schedule of the course and the modukes covered.

Don’t forget to book for the Rotary District

9370 “Potch goes Scotch” Conference—

10-11 June 2016

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R.I. President : Ravi Ravindran - District Governor Tom McGhee

Club Meetings: Every Thursday 5:30pm Northwood Crusaders Ranleigh Crescent Club President : Alma Maxwell almamaxwell@mweb.co.za; AG Gussie Augustus aug@iafrica.com

Rotary Club of Durban North: Club No: 17377—Chartered 10 February 1959

The Link Editor: Ant Connolly :Contact: connolly.anthonyj@gmail.com

Assistant Editor : Hilary Augustus: Contact: aug@iafrica.com Winner of District 9370 Best Weekly Bulletin Award—2014-2015

Sick List

We continue to keep the

following on our “Get

well” prayer list

Geeta Maharaj

Lionel Wybrow

7—Committee Meetings 14– Team Talk—Our Lady of Fati- ma

APRIL

14 Alethea Duncan-Brown 19 Mary Pan

15 Karam & Geeta Maharaj 17 Barry Garland (1997)

Samuel Butler said: “Every mans work is always a por-trait of himself” Rotarians are caring peo-ple, helping the youth, the sick and the elderly, through a service which in-volves giving of ourselves. Let this be the picture of Rotary seen by those out-side our organisation, let us evaporate the mist that so often shrouds our activi-ties, so that people can see our true characteristics, and recognise us by the service we provide

15 April—Golf Day

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Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is

the key to success. If you love what you are do-

ing, you will be successful. Albert Schweitzer

Rowan Hornby

Sign over a Gynaecologist’s Office: "Dr. Jones, at your cervix." In a Podiatrist's office: "Time wounds all heels." On a Septic Tank Truck: Yesterday's Meals on Wheels At an Optometrist's Office: "If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place." On a Plumber's truck: "We repair what your husband fixed." On another Plumber's truck: "Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber." At a Tyre Shop in Milwaukee : "Invite us to your next blowout." On an Electrician's truck: "Let us remove your shorts." In a Non-smoking Area: "If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action." On a Maternity Room door: "Push. Push. Push." At a Car Dealership: "The best way to get back on your feet -miss a car payment." Outside a Muffler Shop: "No appointment necessary. We hear you coming." In a Veterinarian's waiting room: "Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!" At the Electric Company: “We would be delighted if you send in your payment. However, if you don't, you will be delighted." In a Restaurant window: "Don't stand there and be hungry; come on in and get fed up." In the front yard of a Funeral Home: “Drive carefully. We'll wait." At a Propane Filling Station: "Thank heaven for little grills." And don't forget the sign at a CHICAGO RADIATOR SHOP: "Best place in town to take a leak." And the best one for last............ Sign on the back of another Septic Tank Truck: "Caution - This Truck is full of Political Promises"