District 9640 Australia November 2001 Newsletter Page 2

BRIAN KNOWLES TO ATTEND MEETING IN CHINA

PRIT Brian Knowles, Chairman Western Pacific PolioPlus Committee, will travel
to Beijing on the week-end of 27/28 October 2001. The meeting is a ceremony to
celebrate the eradication of polio in China and will be held in the Great Hall of the
People in Beijing at 9am on Monday 29th October. Brian was invited by the
Chinese Ministry of Health to speak at the ceremony. The major address will be
by the Minister of Health and the meeting will be chaired by the Vice Minister.

The regional Director of World Health, as well as representatives of
UNICEF, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and the Japanese Aid Agency
(JICA) will also speak. These organisations are the ones we have worked
with so closely over the last 8 - 9 years in the region.

On the previous day (Sunday 28th October) there will be a seminar for
various sections of the Health Ministry reviewing the programme that led to
eradication of polio in China. 22 October 2001

BRIAN KNOWLES REPORTS ON VISIT TO CHINA

The ceremony was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and was
organised by the Chinese Ministry of Health. Vice Minister Dr Yin Dakui was
the chief representative of the Chinese Government and in his address to a
gathering of some 400 people, including a number of international guests,
he paid tribute to the international agencies who had supported the
eradication efforts in his country. The international guests included the
ambassador from Japan representing the Japanese Government who have been
strong supporters through their Aid agency, JICA. It also included UNICEF
representatives, WHO delegates from Geneva, Manila and the WHO office in
Beijing, as well as Dr Steve Cochi from the Centre for Disease Control from
Atlanta, USA and myself from Rotary International.

Each of the main partner agencies was given the opportunity to address the
meeting and I had that pleasure on behalf of Rotary International. The Vice
Minister presented special plaques to representatives of all 31 provinces
in China noting the contribution the provinces have made to the eradication
programme. He also presented plaques to the various partner agencies who
have provided financial support. The plaque I received on behalf of Rotary
reads "Presented by the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of
China in recognition of the outstanding contribution to Poliomyelitis
Eradication in China - Beijing October, 2001".

That evening I attended a banquet hosted by the Minister for about 40
guests at a Beijing Hotel. The celebrations were the result of a tremendous
commitment by the Government of China which has resulted in the final
certification. The date of the activities - 29th October - was exactly 12
months after the regional certification meeting in Kyoto.

Before departing Beijing on the Tuesday afternoon, I attended a meeting of
the Provisional Rotary Club of Beijing held at the Kempinski Hotel at
12.30pm. This Club was granted provisional status on 1 July, having been
meeting as an informal group for some years. Many of the group were
Rotarians in other Clubs before being posted to China. There is a similar
Club in Shanghai. The Club has over 40 members and is an enthusiastic
group. The President was absent last week and the meeting was handled by
the Vice President, who is the ambassador for Switzerland. I was glad that
I was able to visit this Club. Full status depends on action by the Board
and by the Government of China. It is not known when this will take place.
1 November 2001

	Brian Knowles to attend meeting in China
	Brian Knowles reports on visit to China
	Polio Plus Program of Rotary
	Rotary Service by Brian Knowles AM
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	District 9640 Australia November 2001 Newsletter Page 2
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