D-2452 DG's Newsletter Special Edition September 2015

District 2452 Governor's Newsletter Special Edition September 2015 District 2452 Polio Conference Beirut, Lebanon

Fellow Rotarians and friends, In addition to my monthly newsletter, I have decided to share with you this special edition to cover an important event held during September in our District, the First District 2452 Polio Seminar. It was held in Beirut, Lebanon in the presence of Rotary International President Elect for the years 2016-2017, John Germ and his wife Judith. The seminar was also attended by many senior Rotarians from our Zone headed by Rotary International Director Safak Alpay and his wife Deniz. The First District 2452 Polio Seminar was enriched with many activities that demonstrated Rotary ideals and service avenues through fellowship and friendship. During the period between the 4th and 6th of September, we celebrated Rotary's 30th Anniversary of Polio Plus and we had the chance to witness the launching of many projects accomplished by our fellow Rotarians from Lebanon. We were able to meet with many high ranking Lebanese officials who expressed their support and appreciation to what Rotary is doing in this part of the world. We also met the District 2452 Youth and the Rotary family at large. Words cannot express the appreciation I feel for all the work done by the organizing committee in Lebanon. Their perseverance, devotion and hospitality made the seminar a successful one. Thank you to R.I.P.E, his wife, all senior Rotarians and every single Rotarian who attended the seminar or contributed to our special fund raising campaign for Polio Plus. Fellow Rotarians, Our polio eradication efforts have established an active disease surveillance network in all countries and this is supporting other health interventions, including measles vaccinations and the distribution of deworming tablets and bed nets. The world is 99 percent polio-free. We are closer than ever to ending this horrible crippling disease for good. The fact that we are able to reach all children with the polio vaccine is proof that we can succeed on our next major global health initiative. Yet we are in emergency mode. That's why we have to get involved. We need every one of us to use his or her network of contacts to make sure this disease is totally eradicated. Advocacy is not the job of a small group of senior rotary leaders - it's up to everyone to make sure polio stays on the global agenda. Rotarians in District 2452, have continuously shown their commitment to the goal of global polio eradication. Since the beginning of this Rotary year, we started a special campaign to raise additional funds which resulted in presenting a cheque with an amount of US$ 100,000 to the Rotary Foundation Polio Plus Program on behalf of all Rotarians and their families. This amount will be matched with US$ 200,000 from the generous Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help vaccinate more than 500,000 children all over the world. As Rotary International President K.R. \"Ravi\" Ravindran said: \"We have now been given this great gift: one year to take all our talents, all our gifts, everything that we are and can become -- and Be a Gift to the World. Mustafa Nasereddin District Governor District 2452

Official Lebanese Authorities' Visits The Rotary International President Elect 2016-2017 John Germ and his wife Judy arrived in Lebanon on September the third and were welcomed by high - ranking rotary members. R.I.P.E. John Germ and his wife Judy, District Governor Mustafa Nasereddin and high-ranking Rotarians from all over the district visited: The Speaker of the House, H.E. Nabih Berri and his wife Mrs. Randa Berri, who heads The Lebanese Welfare Association for the Handicapped in Lebanon. H.E. Prime Minister Tammam Salam, who was honored by P.E. Germ with a Paul Harris award.

A press conference took place on September 4 2015 at the Bristol Hotel. The latest updates about the virus were discussed, along with what Rotary, WHO, UNICEF, CDC, Bill and Melinda Gates are doing to end Polio in the world. R.I.P.E. John Germ, Mr. Tamer Pehlivan from Sanofi, and Ms. Tanya Chauisat from UNICEF presented the history of polio.

Some Highlights of the press release Germ, a member of the Rotary Club of issued in the conference: Chattanooga, Tennessee in the United States says cooperation of the regional Rotary Representing 77 Rotary clubs with more than district is vital to securing a polio-free Middle 2,000 members in Lebanon, Cyprus, Jordan, East. Sudan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, \"Rotary's emergency response grant and the Georgia, Armenia and Palestine, the Rotary volunteer efforts of Rotary members were District 2452 has assisted in immunization keys to stopping the polio outbreak in Syria against the paralyzing disease polio. and Iraq in 2013 and 2014,\" said Germ. This took the form of Polio vaccinations to \"Stemming the spread of the wild poliovirus in protect more than 25 million children in seven the region allowed 2015 to be a year of countries during the 2013-2014 polio unprecedented progress. We've seen the outbreak in Syria. This support included continent of Africa go an entire year without emergency funding, donations of items a case of polio for the first time ever and requested by local Ministries of Health and Pakistan has reported a 70 percent reduction volunteer support during emergency in cases compared to the same time last year. National Immunization Days.

\"Rotary members have been key contributors to the control of the Middle East and Horn of Africa outbreaks, and to the progress in the region as a whole. Their continued support will be essential to achieve a polio-free world,\" said Christopher Maher, WHO manager for Polio Eradication and Emergency Support. Rotary's main responsibilities within the initiative are fundraising, advocacy, and social mobilization. To date, Rotary clubs worldwide have contributed more than $1.4 billion toward ending polio. Rotary launched its polio immunization September edition of The Rotary magazine 1 program. Polio Plus in 1985, and in 1988 became a spearheading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since the initiative launched in 1988, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent, from about 350,000 cases a year to less than 400 in 2014. The GPEI has also teamed with Gavi, a global vaccine alliance, and Sanofi Pasteur, the largest manufacturer of polio vaccine, in its final push to eradicate the disease. Contributing greatly to the success of diminished polio cases are the millions of Rotary members who have volunteered countless hours to immunize 2.5 billion children in 122 countries.

Rotary's main responsibilities within the initiative are fundraising, advocacy, and social mobilization. To date, Rotary clubs worldwide have contributed more than $1.4 billion toward ending polio. Through 2018, every dollar Rotary commits to polio eradication will be matched two-to-one by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation up to $35 million a year. In addition to contributing and raising funds, Rotary members volunteer their time to immunize children in polio affected countries. From the launch of the Polio Plus global initiative in 1988, 5 million people, mainly in the developing world, who would otherwise have been paralyzed, will be walking because they have been immunized against polio.

Trip to Jounieh R.I.P.E and team were welcomed by the mayor and Board members of Jounieh Municipality. This was followed by a visit to a mega project conducted by Rotary Clubs in Lebanon which is providing water filtration systems to all public schools. Lunch took place in Tripoli sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce,Industry, Agriculture and Business in NorthLebanon.

Lunch at Restaurant Shater Hassan in Tripoli

Gala Dinner

Special thanks to PR Country Committee Chair 2015 -2016-Lebanon, Rotarian Bana Kalash Kobrosly Executive Editor for the District Governor Newsletter and District Correspondent RotarianSuha Yanni Ghawi