Dr. Linda Cook is a local retired pediatrician and she is using her knowledge and experience to help in the fight near and dear to us as Rotarians - the fight against polio. She went on a polio surveillance trip to India with Sherri and Al Muniz in 2010 where she observed the work that Rotarians are doing there to control polio and ameliorate the damage it causes. Linda reported that since the 1980-90's there have been no reported cases of polio in the U.S.A. (Rotary and the Fight Against Polio timeline can be found HERE. Please visit and read to learn more about the amazing milestones that have been reached to eradicate this dread disease.) Linda related that in many countries culture is a major obstacle in administering vaccines. Lack of knowledge and superstition must be overcome in order to help them. Countries that need the vaccine are involved in warfare that makes it almost impossible to go in and give vaccines. It requires bravery to go to war torn countries. In fact, 75 workers were killed, caught in crossfire of warring factions.To fight this disease it requires countries to work together for the common good. Linda says that polio can be harder to detect - some carry the virus and transmit undetected. (To watch Rotary's Public Service Announcement "Let's Drop to Zero" click HERE.)As a token of our appreciation we have donated a book in honor of our speaker to the Locke Hill Elementary School Library. Linda, thank you for your work to help eradicate Polio and for speaking to us today! Please come back and visit us again soon.
We exchanged flags with our visitors from Paris Kentucky today! Thank you Bill T. McConnell and Tom Brannock for visiting our club! We hope you enjoyed
your stay in the Alamo City!
your stay in the Alamo City!