Two distinguished Rotarians from the United States—Past District Governors (PDG) Nancy Barbee (Jones County Rotary Club, North Carolina) and Mary Eileen (Metro New York City Rotary Club, New York), visited Karachi from November 16 to 20 to participate in the End Polio Now campaign.
The visitors had a very busy schedule, as outlined below:
On Monday, November 17:
Visit to Machar Colony for house-to-house immunization, visit to the EPI Center (Eidgah, Saddar Town), and Cantt Station Vaccination Center for transit immunization of children.
On Tuesday, November 18:
Visit to Emergency Response Unit (ERU) Gujro, Nutrition Corner, EPI Center & Birth Dose Initiative, vaccination activities in Jannat Gul Town, and the Rotary Team Support Center in Gharibabad.
On Wednesday, November 19:
On November 19, the visitors, accompanied by members of RCK, visited several major community service initiatives to understand their impact, operations, and long-term sustainability.
Visit to Artificial Limbs Center (ALC)
At the ALC, located within the Rotary Community Center (RCC) in Gulistan-e-Johar, guests were briefed on the center’s mission. A walkthrough showed the full patient journey—from registration to rehabilitation —highlighting modern fabrication methods and compassionate care. Both PDGs praised the center’s high-quality prosthetics and holistic services.
Visit to the Diabetic Center at RCC
The visitors then toured the Diabetic Center, receiving an overview of its diabetes screening, monitoring, treatment counseling, and patient education services. They appreciated its structured approach and community support.
Visit to Memon Medical Institute (MMI)
Next on the agenda was MMI, where PP Ejaz Saya introduced the hospital’s mission and its collaborations with RCK to the esteemed guests. The tour covered the OPD, Laboratory, ICU, and OTs, showcasing advanced infrastructure and Rotary-supported services.
Inspection of RCK’s Dialysis Center (Global Grant Project)
A major highlight was the visit to the Dialysis Center, which offers free dialysis to about 100 patients daily. The visitors commended the project’s scale, efficiency, and life-saving impact acknowledging it as a remarkable example of Rotary’s mission to serving humanity.
Presentation & Hosted Lunch at MMI
The day ended with a presentation on Rotary project updates and future plans, followed by a lunch hosted by MMI with delicacies prepared in-house, allowing constructive discussion and fellowship, reinforcing bonds between Rotary communities across borders.
