The global eradication of polio remains Rotary International’s number one philanthropic objective. The road to END POLIO NOW runs through the country of Pakistan, one of two countries where the disease remains endemic. To see first-hand the good work going on in Pakistan, Zone 33 End Polio Now Coordinator Nancy Barbee and I recently visited Karachi. We were the guests of Past Trustee of The Rotary Foundation Aziz Memon, Chair of the PolioPlus Committee for Pakistan, and the Rotary family of Karachi.
From the moment Nancy and I stepped off the jet bridge into Jinnah International Airport, we were swept into the welcoming arms of our Rotary family and along on a journey that gave us a first-hand view of how they are eradicating Polio in Karachi and Sindh province. Karachi, a sprawling mega city of approximately 20 million that can take up to two hours to cross by car, is an economic magnet for people from elsewhere in Pakistan and nearby countries like Afghanistan and Bangladesh. This means a constantly moving stream of undocumented children and, of course, challenging language barriers. Not everyone speaks Urdu, the predominant tongue of Karachi and Sindh province. Nancy and I soon discovered the lengths that Rotary, our partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and local government officials go to find and vaccinate children.
The morning after we arrived, Nancy and I were privileged to take part in the public launch of a vaccination campaign by the Sindh Province Ministry of Health. We then took our first journey into Karachi’s streets and went door-to-door with our real heroines, the women who spend their days giving children a better start in life. We stepped onto the buses stopped at a mandatory highway transit station in search of unimmunized children. We joined the permanent team at Cantt Train Station and gave drops to children on its train cars and platforms. Nancy and I also observed the projects related to Polio and public health generally – water filtration equipment, prosthetic limb fittings, health clinics, and a modern hospital equal to any such facility in the US. During our stay, we were privileged to receive arranged briefings from representatives of WHO, UNICEF, and local officials.
My Takeaways
My memories from Karachi will last a lifetime:
- Gratitude to Aziz Memon. He and his team organized an amazing visit for Nancy and me. Aziz, his wife, and “home” team were gracious and made us feel so welcome.
- Thanks to the Rotary family of Karachi. A special shout-out to Rotarian Amena Khan, who was our guide and buddy during our entire stay. It is true, wherever you roam in Rotary, you have friends and family waiting. Nancy and I will always remember our hosts with the most who took such good care of us.
- The fabulous sights, tastes, and smells of the food. From the bread baking at TestKitchen to the smoky roti shared with us by a family we visited in the field. The classic, spicy Sindh biryani that was part of many meals. The grilled meats served in an amazing Arabian Gulf setting at the famous seaside restaurant Kolachi. The colorful vendor stalls at the Empress Market.
- The healthcare workers who toil every day in difficult, sometimes dangerous, conditions. Around 300 of them have given their lives to End Polio Now.
Mostly, and always, the children. Especially the three children whose families had previously refused immunization. Vaccinating two of them was one of the best things that I have ever done in Rotary.
