In Rotary D9212 COVID-19 fight is a marathon race
In the world of athletics especially in the race category, we have a number of types of races ranging from short, medium and long ones. All these races have different approach especially if you want to win and not only compete for fame. How you are going to approach the 100m race is different from the Rudisha’s 800m race and totally different from the Eliud Kipchoges famous 1:59 INEOS marathon.
Back to Rotary where service to the community is not only a special corporate social responsibility but more of a way of daily life. This is a culture of every Rotarian all over the globe regardless of age, race, gender and religion, Service Above Self is our motto that keeps us moving.
When the world realized in late last year that Covid19 pandemic isn’t just Wuhan or by extension Chinese affair but a global concern, both international and local organizations and governments ganged up to fight the disease. A number of arsenals and machinery were deployed and States were struggling to show the world that they are indeed up to the task. Expect such a scenario in every race, the enthusiasm and zeal just before a well-publicized race is that high notch. On the other hand corporates were all over trying to practice their social responsibility role and moving in to create a good reputation with governments and community.
Most of them were prepared for a short race, the 100m race, where you use all the energy at once and you celebrate the win. While for us in Rotary District 9212 which consists of Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan, the countries of long distance races had a different approach altogether. Going by the World Health Organization updates and statistics, we knew we gonna have a ‘COVID-19 marathon’. A race that usually has many participants at the beginning and very few strong will reach the finishing line. Many will drop on the way thirsty, running out breath or fatigued.
In Kenya the COVID-19 infections are rising every day going by the MoH updates, however, to the contrary individuals and some organizations are relaxing in this marathon fight. This is the time in marathon where we need more energy than ever to finish strong. The key word here is to finish strong. In Rotary we are approaching the transition period where the current leadership is passing the baton to new leadership.
We want to finish strong in this fight and give the new leadership an easy terrain to elevate our game much higher. We started with providing handwashing machines and detergents all over the country, we went on to distribute food hampers when the COVID-19 had eaten into community pockets, we are now providing protective equipment not only to community but also to front-line workers. This is a marathon race, start strong, maintain the pace and finish stronger.
Article by: Hassan Mbondo – President, Rotary Club Of Mombasa Downtown
