Rotary International President-Elect Shekhar Mehta Invites Kenyans To Partner For Free Heart Surgeries For Children
Rotary International President-Elect Shekhar Mehta has offered to coordinate free heart surgeries for children through Rotary Clubs in Kenya and Africa at large.
Speaking as a guest at the Rotary Club of Nairobi-Lang’ata’s weekly meeting on Thursday, President-Elect Shekhar Mehta challenged the Clubs to partner with the airlines to facilitate their airfares.
“For parents with children in need of heart surgeries, there is a big hole in their budgets to afford heart surgery. In living with our Rotary promise of service to the community, I invite Rotarians from Africa to identify children in dire need of free surgeries. I however challenge the clubs to work with their local airlines to facilitate their airfare to India to receive the life-changing surgeries,” said President-Elect Shekhar Mehta.
According to a research in The Frontier in Pediatrics Journal focusing on East Africa, an estimated 500,000 children are born with Congenital Heart Disease every year in Africa. The research also noted that many of the children lack access to quality or any care due to many factors.
President-Elect Mehta also reported the announcement of Jennifer Jones from the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland as the Rotary International President 2022-23, making her the first woman president in the organization’s 115-year history. He added that he was keen to increase gender diversity in his board.
“We will have 8 women in the Rotary International Board as we look towards increasing the number of women, not because of their gender, but because of their calibre. Jennifer will make an outstanding president which is a phenomenal milestone in Rotary,” noted President-Elect Mehta.
Akin to a Rotary International Convention, Rotarians from all over the world convened at the Rotary Club of Lang’ata’s meeting attracting over 400 guests from more than 20 countries. He urged members to work towards increasing their membership to serve communities with integrity and servant leadership.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has increased our ability to convene from different parts of the world. We have become more creative in how we meet, hence increasing our experience and networking opportunities. Let us take time to learn from each other and share in the value of serving communities with devotion and integrity,” he added.
A Rotary member since 1984, Mehta has served Rotary as director, member or chair of several committees, zone coordinator, training leader, member of The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers, and district governor. He is also the chair of Rotary Foundation (India).
Mehta has received Rotary’s Service Above Self Award and The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Awards.
The Rotary Club of Nairobi-Lang’ata whose President is Sarah Migwi was chartered on 31st August 2001 and has 112 members. The Club’s Charter President Alex Nyaga will be the next District Governor succeeding the current District Governor Patrick Obath.
To learn more about the Rotary Club of Nairobi – Lang’ata visit www.rotarycluboflangata.org
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Press Contact: Emily Manjeru PR Director Rotary Club of Nairobi-Lang’ata Tel: 0724 926 269 | Email: admin@rotarycluboflangata.org
