CALL TO ACTION -STOP MOTHERS DYING!
Follow on from Calmed Pilot Programme
“A Changing Rotary for a Changing World”, is how RI General Secretary John Hewko described the groundbreaking changes facing Rotary today. We were able to share details of a major transition of Calmed Pilot programme into the next phase -Rotarian Vocational Alliance Saving Mothers and Babies, with a call to action from Rotarians, Rotaractors and partners forming a strategic alliance for eliminating preventable maternal and new-born mortality.
ROUND TABLE ON ROTARIAN VOCATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR ELIMINATING PREVENTABLE MATERNAL AND NEW-BORN MORTALITY
This discussion forum was held on the 1st of June 2019. About 30 invited Rotarians and Rotaractors joined in the discussions led by RI Director Elect Jan Lucas Ket – for details please see the separate report or visit calmedrotary.org
Key Message
- Calmed programme based on vocational training the trainer model has been piloted successfully with validated outcomes in improving knowledge, skills and behaviour of health care professionals caring for pregnant women, babies and communities, in two sites in India.
- A Technical Assistance package (training resources, volunteers, partnership with global organisations and access to funding) to implement future programmes for the elimination of preventable maternal and new-born mortality is now available.
- Rotarians, Rotaractors and Activists are invited to join Rotarian Vocational Alliance Saving Mothers and Babies (calmedrotary.org) for joint action.
- Country champions are needed to act through In-Country Forum (partnership of Rotarians, Rotaractors, NGOs and Government) to offer Technical and implementational guidance for programmes scaling up of the Calmed training model for elimination of preventable maternal and new-born mortality in the country.
- Vocational expertise and partnership have been shown to help growth in Rotary service engagement, programme development and Rotary membership recruitment.
BOOTH 4640- STOP MOTHERS DYING!
Our Booth was a one stop shop for promoting Calmed, explaining our progression to the Rotarian Vocational Alliance,
meeting Rotarians and Rotaractors from many countries, and mutual learning, with exchange of ideas. There was fun and enjoyment.
Over the 5-day period an estimated 450+ Rotarians, Rotaractors and guests visited our Booth in the House of Friendship. The visitors included senior leaders including RI General Secretary John, RI Past Presidents, RI Directors, TRF Trustees, RI and TRF Staff members, District/Club leaders and many old friends. There is a lot of interest in Rotarian Vocational Alliance at the Global and also Country level including in India, Bangladesh, US ,Canada ,Nepal and Uganda.
I met many new friends too. Banners and stories were exchanged. As well as leaflets for Calmed, we distributed leaflets for MEDBOX, GLOWM and MAF -our collaborators The Booth displays and leaflets generated a lot of interest – we are following these with further correspondence.
It was a privilege to be at the receiving end of advice, suggestions and support for developing Technical Assistance Package for the Vocational Alliance. This group included senior Rotary Leaders, Doctors, Midwives and potential funders. We are grateful to all of them for their continued interest and support for the Vocational Alliance.
We are grateful to many Rotarians who acted as Booth hosts – thank you for your support. Special thanks are due to Hari Neupane and his friends who helped at the Booth. Together we move forward to growing Rotary – Programme advancement, Service engagement and Membership recruitment (our enthusiastic professional volunteers for the Calmed project).
ROTARY COMMITTEE MEETINGS
I attended Board meetings (as Medical Director) of Rotarian Action Group on Population Development RFPD. It was a pleasure to a meeting of the RI Networking and Services Committee
| R I NETWORKING AND SERVICES COMMITTEE |
I had to miss the Cadre Training meeting but managed to contribute to the Focus Group interview and Cadre Booth. I also visited many Booths including the Booth of Doctors Fellowship.
Thank you to many friends, advisers and supporters who I met at the Convention. My sincere apologies to those dropped in the Booth and I missed them. Your support remains important.
PDG Dr. Himansu Basu July,2019
