Bill Dauster – President of The Garnet Health Foundation represented Wallkill East Rotary Club at our September 7th meeting, where he spoke about their club’s Second Rotary Global Grant effort. Their mission is to “address the critical community health needs of Haiti and produce sustainable, measurable outcomes”. This project is a collaboration between ORSI (Orthopedic Relief Services International founded by Dr. Ron Israelski) based in Goshen, Wallkill East Rotary Club, The Rotary Club of Port au Prince and Rotary International.
Through their joint efforts, the groups will strive to use a novel approach with the acronym I.C.E. (Infrastructure, Clinical, Education). The infrastructure provisions will include much needed medical supplies, which are in great demand in Haiti. The clinical portion will provide telemedicine technology with NYU School of Medicine. Lastly, the education segment consists of textbooks, year-round lectures from skilled orthopedists and computer software with orthopedic training and literature. This three pronged approach can do much good in Haiti, which has been plagued by government corruption, inner city violence and many gang controlled areas that interfere with access to modern health care.
This project is one of many sponsored by Rotary Clubs to bring improvements and relief to Haiti, which is the most economically depressed area in the Western Hemisphere. It should be noted that Liberty Rotary Club has been administering a Clean Water Program in Haiti for many years to provide potable water to those that would otherwise be exposed to pollution and pathogens in their drinking water. Through our club's program, 1,000 families have access to filtered water to better assure good health.
If you would like more information about Wallkill East's grant or would like to make a donation to support this project, contact Bill Bassett at 845-800-3532.
If you would like more information about the Liberty Rotary Club - Clean Water Program or would like to make a donation, please contact Gary Siegel at 845-798-2188