Polio National Immunization Trip 2011

Asossa, Ethiopia, near the border of West Ethiopia/Southern Sudan is where I flew with about 20 fellow Rotarians for the National Polio Immunization Day.  Asossa was a lush, green "Garden of Eden".  We walked through fields of corn and grain to reach the babies in the huts spread far and wide across the beautiful countryside.  It was warm in the morning, then the afternoon rains brought mud and cool weather. 

Dr Randy from Atlanta, Georgia 

Our group was wonderful.  We were spread out in about 3 different hotels, but we took our meals together.  It is on the actual Polio NID that everyone gets to know each other really good and life time friends are made.  It is a real bonding eperience.  I spent the entire morning wandering from hut to hut with my new good friend Dr Randy from Atlanta, Georgia.  We walked fast and vigorous!  After a lunch break, we headed out again.

This was our health team for the Polio NID. 

Walked through cornifields and meadows of mango trees to reach the babies.

This baby has a thyroid problem that needs daily medication, but she is not receiving it.

This girl has a fungus infection easily cured with a cream if she can get to a clinic. 

Being with a doctor was very interesting for me.  Dr Randy diagnosed two kids with different illnesses that could be cured with a cream or daily mediction if they just could get to a medical clinic!  It must be so frustrating to see such severe cases, know that in the US these kids would not be suffering from these types of ailments, yet being able to do nothing at this time to help them.

We gaveout raisins too :) 

The doors are marked to signify the child has been vaccinated.

You know a Polio NID is successful when both groups reunite and both groups think that their trip was the best and wish that the other group had experienced all that they did on theirs!  Both the Gondar group and the Asossa group had amazing stories to tell.  The success and happiness is in the pictures.  ENJOY!!

If a child cant touch her ear like this, she is considered under five and is given polio vac. 

IT WAS SO WONDERFUL!!