Posted on Dec 01, 2017
Disease results in misery, pain, and poverty for millions of people worldwide. That’s why treating and preventing disease is so important to us. We lead efforts both large and small. We set up temporary clinics, blood donation centres, and training facilities in underserved communities struggling with outbreaks and health care access. We design and build infrastructure that allows doctors, patients, and governments to work together.
 
Our members combat diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and polio. Prevention is important, which is why Rotary also focuses on health education and bringing people routine hearing, vision, and dental care.
 
The challenge
  • Infectious diseases are the leading killers of people living in poverty. (Harvard Medical School)]
  • Sub‐Saharan Africa has 24% of the global disease burden but only 3% of the world’s health care workers and 1% of global health financial resources. (WHO)
  • Nearly all of the 14 million to 17 million children and adults who die each year from an infectious disease live in developing countries. (Global Health Council)
  • Malaria causes nearly a million deaths each year, the vast majority among children under five. (WHO) •
  • Africa has 11% of the world’s population but an estimated 60% of people with HIV/AIDS. (WHO)