Kim Derksen won a travel voucher a couple of years ago and used the proceeds to go to India to take part in National Immunization Day.  The Rotary Club of Lethbridge East had Kim speak to the club on October 12, 2016.  Kim, who is a nursing instructor at the University of Lethbridge, took us all on a short version of her trip to India in February of this year.  It was a very informative and interesting presentation. 
 
Kim is a member of the Rotary Club of Lethbridge Sunrise.  She joined a group of Rotarians from California for the trip as it was the most convenient time to travel.  Kim arrived in Delhi and spent a few days seeing the amazing sights which includes lots of temples.  It was also a shock to Kim's senses to take in the sights, smells and income disparity.    
Kim travelled to a the city of Hathras with 4 of the volunteers.  In Hathras, they vaccinated up to 300 children per day in temporary clinics that were set up in businesses and government building.  Kim and her small group went out to a very primitive small village to vaccinate the children there.  Living conditions were very tough and unsanitary.
Kim then travelled back to Delhi and visited several Rotary supported clinics.  One Rotary supported clinic provided free blood services to needing people of India.  They visited a government supported hospital that provided surgery and prothetic support to Polio sufferers.  One doctor had dedicated his career to helping Polio sufferers and he had preformed over 25,000 surgeries.  
In 1988 there were over 200,000 cases of Polio in India.  In 2013, India was declared Polio free.  There are still a lot of people suffering from Polio and the country must keep vaccinating as there is Polio in neighbouring Pakistan.  
 
Kim Derksen dressed in her "National Immunization Day" outfit presenting
to Rotary Club of Lethbridge East in the Saddle Room.
 
 
The World Health Organization and UNICEF have done an incredible job
in India's Polio Erradication Program.
 
Kim and other Rotary volunteers gave drops at various booths
on National Immunization Day in India