Guest Speaker: David Pearson (RAWCS)

Posted by David Fisher 
on May 09, 2013
 

David was introduced by Bob Newling. David spoke of the Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM) program, which he became personally interested in because of his work experiences as a geologist working in South-East Asia.

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The RAM objective is to reduce deaths and social and economic loss from malaria in regions which are close to Australia – mostly PNG. For the past 25 years Rotary has been active in these areas to protect people at risk from malaria.
Globally there are 250 million cases annually, 1.1 million deaths and 85%of these deaths are children under 5.
The RAM program aims to:

 Provide insecticidal treated bed nets

 Residual insecticidal spraying

 Education
 Engineering of environments
 Rapid accurate diagnosis
 Effective treatment
 Larvicide in breeding grounds
 Research
 Collaboration with other NGOs and governments
Major concerns are:
 Increased parasite resistance to anti-malarial drugs
 Sustainable financing
 Those at risk are the most marginalised refugees, migrant workers etc).
 For more information as to how you can help go to www.ramsaustraliaorg which has links to details of the PNG and Solomon Island programs or you can make a cheque payable to :Rotary Australia Overseas Aid Fund (RAM) which is tax deductible.
David was thanked by Stephanie Coomber.
 
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