The Rotary family in St. Vincent and the Grenadines kicked off September — its Basic Education and Literacy month — with a back-to-school edition of its Rotary Village Doctor project.
This project has become increasingly popular with residents of the Southern Grenadines since the passage of Hurricane Beryl.
On Sunday, it was the turn of the residents of Canouan to receive free medical aid and donations of personal essentials and back-to-school supplies.
Supported by a number of corporate partners, members of the Rotary Club of St. Vincent, Rotary Club of St. Vincent South, and the Rotaract Club of Kingstown journeyed to Canouan for a day of service at the Canouan Secondary School compound.
Over 224 residents were attended to by a team of 13 medical professionals comprising doctors and nurses of varying specialties.
Residents were also able to fill their prescriptions on site, compliments the SVG Pharmaceutical Association and dispensed by professionals from local pharmacies.
A partner in Rotary’s Breast Health Awareness project also accompanied the team to provide ultrasound and X-ray services. Attendees in need of eye care benefitted from donations of 25 vouchers for free eye care and spectacles valued at EC$12,500 from a longstanding supporter of the Rotary Village Doctor programme.
“The return of the Rotary “Free Market” was a welcomed addition, which provided an opportunity for residents to access donations of 75 backpacks with school supplies compliments…,” a press release said.
The “Free Market” also featured essential personal care items, books, shoes and clothing donated by the Rotary family and the SVG Association of Ex Coast Guard Officers in collaboration with Caring for Others Inc. Many residents openly expressed their gratitude for the support, especially as they prepared for the new school year.
The Rotary family was joined by several corporate volunteers who took to the streets of Canouan to make their own goodwill contributions to the community. Local companies supplied cases of water and food packages to the elderly, computer monitors to the school, pillows and mattresses for the school’s sick bay, and a microwave oven for the officers at the Canouan Police Station.
“This edition of the Rotary Village Doctor was a success thanks to the power of partnerships within our community,” the club said.
“The Rotary family remains committed to enhancing the lives of our Vincentian community through service projects in Rotary’s areas of focus — disease prevention and treatment, basic education and literacy, the environment, peace and conflict resolution, maternal and child health, water, sanitation and hygiene, and economic and community development.
People who are interested in partnering with us or have a project idea which could significantly benefit our community, feel free to get in touch with us at [email protected]
Alternatively, if you wish to support their efforts, the Rotary Family in collaboration with Republic Bank (EC) Ltd. has also set up a relief fund to receive monetary contributions.
Bank: Republic Bank Ltd.
Account Name: Hurricane Beryl Relief Fund
Account Number: 200000169348
Somebody must have figured out most of us are a low IQ people. Not to knock Rotary, It wasn’t them.