NEWS
R4H formerly known as Riders for Health in collaboration with Bwaila rotary club has launched a polio awareness and fundraising campaign month which starts Monday October 24 and ends on November 26 this year.
Speaking in Lilongwe during the launch R4H Programs Manager, Lawrence Kachule said they will be using riders to send polio messages to the people and get donations through them. “We have partnered with Lilongwe cycling crew and Riders anonymous in the campaign, these riders will be riding around Lilongwe and other parts of the country requesting people for donations to help in the polio fight.” Said Kachule. He said R4H and Bwaila rotary are geared in the fight against polio so that the country eliminates the disease.
“This ride is an opportunity to highlight both the plight of polio infection in our country and the roads that R4H couriers travel daily to ensure that samples and results can be transported effectively. Effective sample/results transport contributes ultimately to better diagnosis, treatment, and long-term diagnosis for the Malawian patients.” Kachule.
President for the Bwaila rotary club Dr. Stella Kasirye said they thought of the ride so as to give people awareness of the resurrection of polio in some parts of the world. Dr. Kasirye, who is also a Board member for R4H said the launch of the polio month will end with a big fundraising ride to Salima on 26th November. “This was just a launch, bikers anonymous and Lilongwe cycling crew will help us in collection of donations towards polio.” Said Dr Kasirye. Dr. Kasirye has asked people to be cautious with polio and take their under five years children to vaccination centres which the government has introduced.
One of the riders from Lilongwe cycling crew, Griffin Lameck said they thought of partnering with the organizations as they also want to help in raising awareness on polio. “We ride and meet with people, we decided of doing this initiative to help in the humanitarian issues. It maybe someone today but tomorrow it might be me who may suffer from polio therefore we will ride for the cause.” Said Lameck.
