NID 7th Feb
The day we had all been waiting for started at 7.30 as we visited one of the central distribution centres for the Polio Vaccine in the City. Teams of nurses from local Colleges turned up to volunteer. Having been issued with their cool boxes, tally sheets, banners and whistles and masks to give to the children, they were shipped off to the booths situated strategically in each neighbourhood by Rotarians in their cars or in bedecked rickshaws.
We had breakfast at the Conference centre and after the Karnataka state Governor had ceremoniously immunised a couple of youngsters we took to the streets with our Rotarian hosts. In pairs we toured a number of the local centres as the Rotarians do on every NID event. They act as the eyes and ears, highlighting any difficulties with the venues, checking the numbers being seen and ensuring that the vaccine is OK, i.e. staying cool. They also deliver breakfast and lunch to the volunteers at the booths.
Some sites were expecting only 47 during the day whereas others my have 600 through the doors. They varied in size and location, schools, community centres and local clinics. But all were clearly marked and manned by enthusiastic staff.
We were all encouraged to take a direct role, administering drops, moving tables, fixing banners and interacting with the kids, providing whistles, baseball caps and pencils when appropriate.
It was a great privilege to have seen the sharp end of this longterm campaign.
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