THE MEASLES-RUBELLA VACCINATION CAMPAIGN

The Senior Programme Manager for Eastern and South Africa for Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign, Mr. Alison Riddle is expected in Dar es Salaam shortly in relation with the vaccination campaign in Tanzania. The latest news, just briefly, is that District Governor Lion Wilson Ndesanjo met Madame Lori Sloate from Gavi Alliance at Kathmandu, Nepal and had brief discussions on the campaign.

Recently, Past District Governor and GMT Leader Lion Abdul Majid Khan was appointed as Coordinator for the vaccination campaign from the Lions organization.

The Lions Clubs International, Gavi Alliance and leading partners Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Kingdom' Department for International Development (DFID) are the leading partners in this campaign.

Measles-Rubella is a disease that causes serious, life long disabilities in infants. From 2013 developing countries will benefit from the catalyctic support offered by Gavi Alliance for combined measles-rubella vaccine. This is a major step in accelerating global progress in the control of two life threatening diseases.

It was reported that by 2012, over 700 million children in 49 countries between 9 months and up to 14 years of age are expected to be immunized against measles-rubella.

The Lions Clubs International monthly magazine LION  has issued permission to use this advertisement in the Governor's Blog and we wish to appreciate and thank the Advertisement Department of the LION magazine.

Story by Abdul Hai

PDG SATISH SHARMA URGES QUICK SOLUTION

Past District Governor and Chairman of the Governor's Council in Sub District 411B, Lion Satish Sharma is considering the status of six clubs under Status Quo as a "serious situation". He has earnestly requested the Region and Zone chairpersons to find a remedial solution.

Arusha, Tanzania: Past District Governor Lion Satish Sharma who is also convenor for Membership Retention and Orientation has urged for a quick solution regarding six Lions Clubs in Tanzania and Uganda now in Status Quo or in other words "danger zone for exit".

He has particularly requested the Region and Zone Chairpersons to consider the present scenario facing the clubs as a very serious situation requiring a quick action to restore the status of the six clubs.

PDG Lion Satish Sharma is also Chairperson of the Governor's Council in the sub district and hence he is likely to be duty-bound to report the situation in the next 2nd Cabinet Meeting scheduled on 1st February 2013 in Dar es Salaam. 

He said in his circular letter to the concerned leaders: "The club health assessment report is sent to you not only as a report but a tool to identify areas where improvement is required and its time now that we join handss with our leaders to sort out this matter at the earliest."

The six clubs are three at lake-side town of Mwanza, two at the sea port of Dar es Salaam and one at Arua in Uganda.

Recently, the GMT Leader and PDG/PMCC Lion Abdul Majid Khan also considered this as a serious situation requiring urgent solution to it.

Story by Abdul Hai

ISAAME FORUM IN PICTURES

Kathmandu, Nepal: The 41st ISAAME forum in Kathmandu, Nepal, came to an end on Sunday 8th December after a hectic programme for three days. According to reports, more than 2500 delegates from 35 countries attended the forum mainly from India, South Asia, Africa and the Middle East countries.

District Governor Lion Wilson Ndesanjo congratulating fellow delegates and organizers at the ISAAME Forum in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The top-level delegation from Multiple District 411 comprising Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and the Seychelles are expected to return to their various stations from Monday onwards. The Governor's Blog has received the following pictures directly from Kathmandu.

Some of the delegates from MD 411 from L to R, First Lady Florense Ndesanjo; District Governor Lion Wilson N. Ndesanjo; PDG Dr. Berhan Tabebe; PDG Samson Ndegwa and Spouse; PDG Mahendra Shah pose for a memorable picture during the ISAAME Forum in Kathmandu.

International Director Lion Alex Gomez decorating his personal lion's pin on the lapel of Lion Jessie Mnguto, the legal expert of constitutional and bye laws of Sub District 411B (Tanzania-Uganda).

CONDOLENCE MESSAGE

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Mother of District Officer Lion Zahira Patwa, Bilqisbai Abdulhussain Hassanali Patwa, died in Dar es Salaam on Friday and was buried at the Dawoodi Bohora Cemetery on Saturday morning.

Second Vice District Governor, Lion Haiderali Gangji on behalf of District Governor has passed his condolence message to Zahira Patwa and her family members. At the funeral and burial ceremonies, a good number of Lion members from various clubs attended and participated. Cabinet Secretary Lion Kishore Simzia, Past District Governor and Past Multiple Council Chairman Lion Abdul Majid Khan were among prominent people at the cemetery.

The Convenor of the IT & BULLETIN Lion Salim Suleimanji and District Chairperson Lion Abdul Hai were also present at the burial and funeral ceremonies. Some members from L.C. of Pwani were also present.

Lion Zahira Patwa is a prominent member of Lions Club of Dar es Salaam Pwani having been past chairperson of the club. She is currently a District Officer holding the post of Youth Outreach, Campus and Exchange Programme.

Story by Abdul Hai

ISAAME FORUM...KATHMANDU

Kathmandu, Nepal: The three-day ISAAME Forum which attracted nearly 2500 Lions Members from 35 countries was officially opened by His Excellency, the President of Nepal, Dr. Ram Yadav at Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

From Sub District 411B, a delegation comprising four top personalities District Governor Lion Wilson N. Ndesanjo, First Lady of the sub district, Florense Ndesanjo, Past District Governor Lion Kamal Joshi, District Officer for legal matters, Lion Jessie Nguto attended the meeting.

The delegation presented a contribution of US$ 2,500:00 for the international fund raising campaign in favour of "Light a House in Nepal", which is to help contributions towards installing solar electric system in houses in Nepal where  there is no electricity. The main purpose is to assist school or college students to continue with their home studies in good lighting conditions and hence promote literacy.

International Director Lion Alex Gomez presenting his Friendship Banner to District Governor Lion Wilson Ndesanjo when they met at the international forum of ISAAME, the conference which attracted not less than 2500 delegates from 35 countries.

At the ISAAME Forum, International President Barry Palmer, First Lady Anne Palmer, with District Governor Lion Wilson Ndesanjo and First Lady of Sub District Florense.

Cabinet Secretary Lion Kishore Simzia reported the following contributors to this Blog: Lions Club Dar es Salaam Host US$ 530; Dar es Salaam City US$ 340; Dar es Salaam Pwani US$ 222; Dar es Salaam Mzizima US$ 298; Dar es Salaam Amani US$80; Dar es Salaam Azania US$ 70; Dar es Salaam Central US$ 80; Tanga USS 200; Moshi Kibo US$ 400; Arusha US$ 100; Mwanza Valentine US$ 100; PDG Lion Himat Shah US$ 80.

The opening ceremony of the ISAAME Forum, attended by nearly 2,500 Lions Members and invited guests being performed by His Excellency the President of Nepal, Dr. Ram Yadav.

District Governor Lion Wilson Ndesanjo and First Lady Florense at the international forum of ISAAME held at Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

MEMBERSHIP GROWTH : "TURTLE PACE"

The "turtle pace" of membership growth in Sub District 411B (Tanzania-Uganda) needs to be viewed very seriously by all Lions Clubs Leaders and District Officers, the GMT leader, Past District Governor and Past Multiple Council Chairman Lion Abdul Majid Khan stated.

According to the monthly "health assessment" of statistics provided by Lions Clubs International, the sub district indicates only  meagre growth of 4.92% members or in other words the net growth  was 94 new members only. Looking at the progressive trend, the hard facts are that during the last month, new members who came into the Lions' den were 136 but old members dropped were 82 and hence the net growth recorded was only 54 new members.

The sub district has now a total of 1152 members in 42 Lions Clubs in Tanzania and Uganda. Another not-so-happy fact is that six clubs in both the countries are in bold red colour....Status Quo. The clubs after surpassing the deadline for various reasons including non-payment of international dues, might be facing the axe. The Lions Clubs are: Mwanza, Mwanza Valentine, Mwanza Victoria, Dar es Salaam Azania, Dar es Salaam Amani and Arua.

Past Governor Lion Abdul Majid Khan stated in his usual polite yet hard facts monthly circular: " My Dear Fellow Lions, let us look around us, everything changes. Everything on this earth is in a continuous state of evolving, refining, improving, adapting, enhancing and changing. We are not put on this earth to remain stagnant as we are stagnant with our membership over last four years."

He continued:" I strongly believe there are no real barriers to our success." He therefore urged club leaders and district officers, especially those clubs which have fallen into the trap of Status Quo.

The top priority of the District Goals of Governor Lion Wilson Ndesanjo is to increase membership and net retention of members. He has stated in his handbook: " It a nutshell when a team-work of more than 1,350,000 Lions throughout the world embrace "unity in service" the human kind miseries in the world will start shrinking in all aspects."

Past Governor and GMT Leader, Lion Abdul Majid Khan has repeatedly urged membership growth and retention policy of old members. Above and below picture from archives.

Story by Abdul Hai

Governor Lion Wilson Ndesanjo has emphasised membership growth and retention of members as his priority district goal for the current Lionistic Year 2013/2014.

KILWA EYE CAMPS

Kilwa, Tanzania: A joint project of three-days Eyes Screening Camps were held in the historical region of Kilwa, south of Tanzania, by Lions Club of Amani and Rotary Club of dar es Salaam. Close to 600 adults and very few children were checked for eyes related problems. This was a free-for-all medical project for the people.

The Member of Parliament in the constituency of Kilwa North, Hon. Murtaza A. Magungu was among the front-line organizers in these camps, two of which were held in the remote areas of the region. The infra-structure are being constructed but due to sudden heavy rains and thick mud, it was a difficult expedition for the team of thirteen Lions, Optometrists, Volunteers and Nurses.

A close-up picture of smiling  twenty-years old Rukia Hussain who became totally blind just when she was only eighteen years old. She was immediately, after examination by Optometrist Waziri, put down in the list of  56 people who needed urgent attention at bigger hospitals. She is a resident of Kipatimu, a remote hilly area in Kilwa Region.

MP for Kilwa North, Hon. Murtaza A. Magungu seen addressing residents of Kipatimu at Kipatimu Mission Hospital atop the hill. Others in the picture (L to R) Blogger of this blog, Abdul Hai; Optometrist Waziri; Secretary of L.C. Amani Shoffiudin Babul; President of the club in black suit Usman Khan. A total of 138 patients were screened for various eyes related problems.

We wish to reproduce herewith, some photographs taken during the eye camps.

Optometrist Miss Rukaiya Mohammed examining eye sight of one of patients at Njinjo, a remote area in Kilwa Region. A total of 198 people were screened by a team of four Optometrists in this village. Reading glasses and medicines were provided free of any charges.