Rotary International Ready To Support Ghana’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
Humanitarian service organization, Rotary International, says it is ready to assist in Ghana’s COVID-19 vaccination programme to ensure that President Akufo-Addo’s target of vaccinating the entire adult population of the country which is pegged at 20 million, is achieved.
Rotary International is credited with the successful prosecution of Polio vaccinations and the subsequent eradication of same from the entire universe except two countries.
Addressing President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House today the 1st of September 2021, when he paid a courtesy call on him as part of his two day working visit to Ghana, the President of Rotary International, Shekhar Meehta, says the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic can only be won if the whole world gets vaccinated.
He further indicated that based on the experience of Rotary International with Polio vaccinations in the world, Rotary is best placed to help countries all over the world to address the issue of vaccine hesitancy among their populations.
“Currently Rotary is working alot on COVID issues and we are here to offer our help if there is any way Rotary can help the government here in the vaccination process” the Rotary International president Shekhar Meehta said.
President Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo welcomed the gesture of Rotary International in offering to assist the country’s COVID-19 vaccination programme. He noted that the focus Rotary is giving to COVID-19 and vaccinations is appropriate for these times.
“We are one of those who have been waiting for the serum to begin to export vaccines. We were hoping that by now, we would have had a substantial amount of vaccines. We want to vaccinate 20 million people in Ghana by the end of this year”.
“Recently, there has been a short worldwide. Some people have hoarded alot and others don’t have it and that is the drama which we are living but we are beginning to find our way out of it and increasingly the supply situation is getting better. I think that to have your voice in it for the equity and for even distribution of vaccines around the world, that would also be a major contribution that you can make” the Presidentadded.
Rotary International
Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.
Over time, Rotary’s reach and vision gradually extended to humanitarian service. Members have a long track record of addressing challenges in their communities and around the world.
“Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves” the Rotary International founder, Paul Harris, is quoted to have said.
Rotary’s ongoing commitment endures today through an organization that remains truly international. Only 16 years after being founded, Rotary had clubs on six continents. It’s members now span the globe, working to solve some of the world’s most challenging problems.
Rotary began a fight against polio in 1979 with a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. Today, polio remains endemic in only two countries (Pakistan and Afghanistan) down from 125 countries in 1988.