District 1F Lions
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Aug 2009
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Swaziland Program
February 2010 Travel Journal New!
October 2009 Report from Student Volunteers from Swaziland
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Slideshow of Collection in May
Wheels are Turning at the Luke Commission
May 2009 Update
Lions Dr. Harry and Echo VanderWal, Grant Township Lions lead The Luke Commission, a team of Americans and Swazis who hold mobile medical clinics out in the bush. As the months pass more and more Lions in Illinois are becoming involved with helping the needy people in Swaziland. Swaziland is located in southern Africa and a long way from Illinois, but that does not stop the Lions of District 1-F and all of Illinois to show that WE SERVE. We anxiously await the participation of Lions from the entire World in this very worthwhile Medical Mission.
The Grant Township Lions Club, Illinois and the Manzini Lions Club, Swaziland became Twinning Clubs and are working together to help the VanderWals.
The VanderWals travel into the bush and set up each mobile clinic for one day. No matter how late or how dark it becomes, The Luke Commission workers do not leave until all medical patients have been diagnosed and all patients with eye problems tested by an auto refractor that was purchased for the Luke Commission by the Lions of District 1-F.
The Grant Township Lions Club is now in the Middle of raising $30,000.00 for new vehicles (see the following article). To participate, please e-mail Lion Don Hook at liondon1f@att.net. Carrying all of the supplies needed to conduct a clinic over rough country on unimproved roads roads is very hard on the vehicles which take a beating
The VanderWals spent nine months in Swaziland in 2008 staying through mid-October. They provided medical and vision care to Swazis who may have never seen a physician or been able to afford the simplest of medicines, let alone antibiotics and medications to fight the HIV virus.
The VanderWals also line up surgeries for patients with extreme problems and work with the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital in the city of Manzini to provide follow-up care.
In 2008, 21,140 patients were treated out in the bush. On average, each patient was given 3 to 10 medications,. In total, 157,000 packets of medicine were distributed. In addition, 9,529 eye patients were analyzed and fitted for eyeglasses. People walk for miles to attend the bush clinics, and often spend the entire day standing in line.
If you
would like to learn more about The Luke Commission, please visit
www.lukecommission.org.
The Grant Township Lions Club and our twinning club the Manzini Lions Club of Africa are in the process of receiving a $30,000.00 grant from Lions Clubs International Foundation. The only stipulation is that we raise $30,000.00 in matching funds and that we receive donations from numerous Lions Clubs to show the commitment of the local Lions Clubs. The balance of funds can be from outside Lionism. As of today we have $7,300.00, but with your help we can obtain our goal.
Reception on December 2, 2008 was a great hit!
On Tuesday December 2, Lion DG Paul Pioch and the Arlington Heights and Grant Township clubs hosted a reception for Lions Doctor Harry and Echo Vanderwal in recognition of their return from a successful 7-month medical mission to Swaziland. Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene J. Mulder welcomed the group of 33 Lions from through District 1F, and Lion Doctor Harry Vanderwal and his wife Lion Echo Vanderwal provided highlights of this year's mission. They spoke of the delightful smiles of the thousands of people who received medical treatments at more than 50 clinics held in rural Swaziland. They spoke of the miracle of sight as they dispensed more than 10,000 pair of glasses contributed by the clubs in District 1F, and by supporters in Ohio. Click HERE to see and download pictures from the reception.
Click on VIDEO to see the video that they shot during this year's mission
Vernon Hills club joins Swaziland effort
Vernon Hills Lions Club is the latest club to join the Grant Township
Lions in their support of The Luke Commission and their mission in
Swaziland, Africa. On Feb 19th Lion Don Borgwardt and
Co-Chairs of the Swaziland program for Grant Township Lions Club, Lions
Diane and Ken Klein spoke at the Vernon Hills Lions Club. At the
end of the presentation they were pleasantly surprised to receive a car
load of donations, glass cases, and used towels, blankets, and sheets,
small bars of soap, baby wipes, toothpaste, pens, copy paper and
notebook paper. Thank You Vernon Hills Lions Club
Lion Don Borgwardt
Secretary
Grant Township Lions Club
847-207-5521
The following is information about the project.
Wish-list for Swaziland Mission
June Travel Journal from Swaziland
August Travel Journal from Swaziland
September Travel Journal from Swaziland
December Travel Journal from Swaziland
January 2009 Travel Journal -- The line of Patients never quite ends