Rotary District 5130 is very excited about our Rotaplast mission to Oaxaca, the capital city in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, January 15-25, 2009. Although it’s the fourth mission to Oaxaca for Rotaplast International it is the first one jointly sponsored by our district (5130) and the Rotary Club of St. Helena.
Some 75 medically indigent children from outlying rural areas will receive evaluation for cleft lip/palate repairs by our highly skilled medical/surgical/dental Rotaplast team of volunteers from all over the U.S.
Our Medical Director is plastic surgeon Dr. Janet Solomonson who has given her time and creative talent to many Rotaplast missions over the years. I had the pleasure of serving on her Rotaplast team last January in Oaxaca hosted by the Club Rotario de la “Guelaguetza”of Oaxaca. They are also hosting this next mission.
The Jan.”09” medical team will be comprised of 14 medical volunteers and 10 Rotarian non-medical volunteers from Rotary District 5130.
The need is great in Mexico with some 40% of its citizens living at or below the poverty line! In these trying times of economic distress, religious conflicts and wars, humanitarian endeavors such as Rotaplast may be the best out reach from one culture to another!
Thanks for sharing in our passion for people less fortunate than we are.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Frank Leake, MD -Mission Dir(Oaxaca)
Rotaplast-Rotary District Ambassador