After worming our way through the narrow streets of Moradabad, a
small city in Uttar Pradesh, India, a local doctor brought us by foot to
the End Polio Now rally which had already begun. (click below to read more)
As part of a team of 20 Rotarians from districts 6440 (Illinois,
USA), 6270 (Wisconsin, USA), 5650 (Nebraska, USA), and 1070 (England),
we are in India this week to immunize hundreds of children in the
Moradabad area and participate in a Polio Summit Conference 25-26
February involving Rotary leadership, government and health ministry
leaders from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and surrounding
countries.
Words are inadequate to describe the rally. We marched about a mile
plus with people yelling, microphones blaring, and people waving. This
was all to raise awareness of Sunday, when we will be doing the
immunizations. The emotions were overwhelming. There were several
hundreds of people in this rally.
After the march, there was a ceremony in the park. Then we were taken
to one of many slum areas in this city. The squatters “survive” by
collecting rags and plastic bags that are purchased by a local company
who recycles them. Once again Rotary has stepped in by providing a
health clinic twice a week to immunize and take care of the health of
these incredibly poor people. They treat worms, lice, and many common
infections.
Back to the hotel for a quick change of clothing and then more
ceremony at the local Rotary meeting of two of the 15 clubs in
Moradabad. We were honored and lauded for coming from so far to help
these people fight polio. The state of Uttar Pradesh used to have the
most cases of polio, and now there has not been an active case of the
crippling disease in Moradabad for two years and three months. 
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