By Jessica Anstice
The final packing of 53 kits for the End Trachoma project was undertaken by a group of Berwick Rotary Club volunteers on Saturday 9 January.
A Rotary Districts of Australia Building Healthier Communities Project, End Trachoma aims to stamp out the infectious disease that causes blindness to Australians.
The project was driven by rotarian Jane Moore, who put in plenty of work to make it happen.
The 53 kits of hygiene products were packed up by the busy band of volunteers and are now ready to be shipped to Papunya in the Northern Territory, some 240 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs.
Designed to supply everything needed including an instructional card, the kits will be given to school children under 10-years-old.
They will improve the day-to-day hygiene of children which will help to prevent them from contracting Trachoma during their lifetime.
“Australia is the only first-world country left that has not controlled Trachoma,” Berwick Rotary Club secretary Sam McCurdy said.
“It is a serious but preventable disease that can lead to permanent blindness.
“Prevention is the best method of control and that is why this project is so important. Knowing basic hygiene and having the right equipment to carry it out is the key.”
The packs contain toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, combs, hairbands, face washers and hand towels, as well as shampoo and conditioner.
A letter for each bag from a local primary school was also included.
“This is Rotary in action. It takes a lot of work by members such as Jane to get projects such as this one up and running,” he added.
“It gives all the members at the Rotary Club of Berwick great satisfaction that their club is making a difference.”
