Linda Facey's Trip to India

During his visit in July our DG Jeremy Tucker spoke about the trip he and Maggie were taking in November to India as part of the Polio Plus Team. He also mentioned that there were still available places if anyone wished to join them.

After the meeting I asked Jeremy to email me further details. He kindly put me in contact with Mike Yates in Manchester the projects organiser. After much deliberation; me with my family, the Indian Government departments on setting the date, the travel agents on flights, obtaining visas with the postal strike, vaccinations - it has all clicked into place. We fly out from Heathrow on November 5th.

Approximately 90 Rotarians, partners and friends. My Aunt a District Nurse from Holsworthy has decided to join me. We are divided into four groups as there are four different areas that we will be helping in. We are in Delhi.

On arrival we have a reception with the Rotary Polio Office staff. The following day we are with local Rotarians visiting their projects and doing Pre-NID publicity. On the 8th National Immunisation Day we attend an opening ceremony, then disperse to booths to carry out the immunisation work.

We have all been asked to take 100 small gifts for the children being immunised and siblings. Many thanks to you all who have kindly given me pencils, hairbands, pens etc. already. The following day we do a "house to house" mop up operation. This entails checking that all who should have received the vaccination have.

We then have a few days leisure when we hope to visit the Taj Mahal before we then travel to Jaipur where will be met by the local Rotarians and visit the limb centre and other Rotary Projects in the area.

Rtn. Linda Facey