Good health is everyone’s right

We believe good healthcare is everyone’s right. Yet 400 million people in the world can’t afford or don’t have access to basic healthcare.

Disease results in misery pain and poverty for millions of people worldwide. More than 100 million people are pushed into poverty each year because of high medical cost. That’s why treating and preventing disease is so important to us. By leading efforts, both large and small, Rotarians aim to improve and expand access to low-cost and free healthcare in underdeveloped areas of the world. We educate and mobilise communities to help prevent the spread of major diseases such as polio, HIV/AIDS and malaria. We set up temporary clinics, blood donation centres and training facilities in underserved communities struggling with outbreaks and healthcare access. We design and build infrastructure that allows doctors, patients and governments to work together.

Rotary’s top priority is the eradication of polio. Our members also take on far greater responsibilities to combat diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, kidney failure through dialysis services, congenital heart diseases, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, etc.

Disease prevention and treatment take on many forms, from supporting studies to helping immunise people to improving the drinking water and sanitation infrastructure. The world relies on Rotary to tackle these global challenges, and to set an example for others to follow.

The old adage, Prevention is better than cure, still holds good. Understanding the import of this, RI Director Bharat Pandya and I have started a new initiative — Project Positive Health. Under this, we aim to stop NCDs by sensitising people to adopt the simple formula of Ek Chamach Kam, Char Kadam Aage, which translates to: One spoon less of sugar, salt and oil in your daily food and walk four steps more each day. We urge our Rotary clubs to conduct health check-up camps and educate the youth.

Remember health is wealth.

Kamal Sanghvi
RI Director, 2019-21