3-H Grant Six-Month Report, Additional Comments below image

3-H Grant Six-Month Report, Additional Comments

B. Narrative description of progress

The first six months grant funding was received on Aug.10, 2001. In preparation for the transfer of funds, we worked out a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UNICEF, Cameron Park Rotary Club, and Primorski Krai Health Department. The MOU defines the process for ordering, purchasing, shipping, and receiving the vaccines and syringes. A copy of the MOU is attached. On or about Aug.10, 2001 grant funds were also transferred to the 3-H Grant account of the VladEco Rotary Club in Vladivostok.

Next, we ordered the hepatitis B and mumps, measles, rubella (MMR) vaccines and syringes from UNICEF and arranged shipment. The items were shipped to Vladivostok in September 2001. Upon arrival, the items were placed in a climate-controlled warehouse of the Krai (state) Health Department. Then several months were spent obtaining the "Humanitarian" clearance. There was some confusion as to exactly what was needed. By Dec. 2001, the clearance was obtained.

The Vladivostok Rotary Clubs have developed materials to be used to publicize this project. Dr. Tom Leavitt (Cameron Park Rotary) made a site visit in Jan. 2002 to coordinate the beginning of the immunizations and assure that the inoculation clinics were ready. He was very impressed by the preparation that had been made by the clinics and by the publicity materials.

We are disappointed that immunizations have not begun during this reporting period. The reasons for delay will be discussed later in this report. Russian Rotarians have verified in Jan. 2002 that the vaccines and syringes are still safe in the climate-controlled warehouse. This was verified by Alexander Cheshev (President of the VladEco Club), Svetlana Pasternak (Asst. Dist. Gov.5010), Dr. I. Keldusheva (Vladivostok Children’s Hospital), Dr. L. Minkinna (Vladivostok City Children’s Hospital), and Dr. T. Burmistrova (Krai Chief Pediatrician).

C. Project details

C1, 2, 3, 4 (Please note that this is the first 6 months report so 2 and 3 will be combined)

Objective 1. Inoculate all the children 1 year and younger in Vladivostok with hepatitis B and MMR vaccines.

The first year’s vaccines and syringes have been shipped and are in a climate-controlled warehouse in Vladivostok. The inoculations have not started. We have received a lower than expected price for hepatitis B and the syringes. Therefore, we plan to inoculate all children up to 6 years old in the entire Krai (State). We believe this can be done within the budget amount and we are revising the budget to include this change.

Objective 2. Generate a public awareness of the benefits of comprehensive immunization programs for the children.

Materials have been purchased including card calendars, key rings, and Pamphlets. There has been some radio, TV, and newspaper coverage of Dr. Leavitt’s trip. Russian media has given information about the beginning of it.

Objective 3. Develop a strong public support for the comprehensive immunization programs.

We will be unable to achieve this objective until we actually begin the inoculations.

Objective 4. Develop a pilot immunization program that can be utilized in other parts of Russia.

An MOU and draft procurement manual has been developed. (Copies are attached) We are developing documentation to assist in writing a pilot program manual, which can be used in other areas.

Objective 5. Find sources of affordable vaccines, which will provide a self-sufficient program in Russia.

It is a little early in the project to have much information for this objective. However, UNICEF resources have potential for achieving this.

5. Direct benefit: Immunizations have not begun.

Indirect benefit: It is difficult to quantify the number of people who have heard or seen the publicity that has occurred.

6. Difficulties encountered:

A. It took several months to develop the MOU with UNICEF. There was no model MOU that we could use.

B. We had some difficulty establishing our credibility with UNICEF. Rotary had a good reputation, but UNICEF needed to know that we were going to see this project succeed and not give up.

C. We experienced some Russian government bureaucracy delays. There has been difficulty in getting the "Humanitarian" clearance from the Federal Humanitarian Commission. The Governor of Primorski Krai was replaced during the spring of 2001. We now have to develop a new relationship with the new Health Director. Our relationship with the former Director was very good.

D. Primorski Krai experienced the worst snowstorm in 40 years during Jan.

7. Impact on local communities:

It is too early in the project to tell what impact we have had. Some people have learned about the importance of immunizations from the early publicity. The impact will begin when the inoculations actually begin.

8. Objectives for next reporting period:

1. The beginning of inoculations.
2. The creation of public awareness of the benefits of immunizations.
3. Begin to develop public, media, and medical support for immunizations.

10. Nature of local Rotary involvement: Number involved? We have no figure at this time

Nature of involvement includes:

1. Rotary Club doctors preparing clinics
2. Developing publicity materials
3. Helping shipments clear customs
4. Corresponding with co-sponsors
5. Coordinating with Krai Health Department
6. Inspecting vaccines and syringes
7. Discussing project with media

11. Nature of international Rotary involvement:

1. Assisted in design of the project
2. Volunteered professional services and advice
3. Direct work on implementing project
4. Fund raising
5. Site evaluations

12. Lessons learned:

1. We have developed many international friendships
2. We have created good credibility with UNICEF
3. We have learned to always expect the unexpected
4. We have learned to never give up

13. How we are letting the world know of Rotary involvement.

1. We have Rotary Club banners to display at each immunization site.
2. Rotarians, Rotaract, and Innteract members will be at each site wearing Rotary shirts passing out materials with Rotary stickers on them.
3. There will be a media campaign prior to the beginning of the inoculations.
4. We will get pictures.
5. We are also working on a web site to let people know of the Rotary Foundation and Clubs involvement.

14. Additional materials:

1. Memorandum of Understanding: UNICEF, Cameron Park Rotary, and Primorisky Krai
2. Procurement Manual: for shipping to Vladivostok
3. Hepatitis B pamphlet
4. Project CARE pamphlet, used in our fund raising effort and for publicity in USA

FINANCIAL REPORT NOTES

Cameron Park Rotary

A. Materials and Supplies

• Hepatitis B: Vaccine cost was estimated at $.90 a dose. We were able to obtain it at $.37 a dose by ordering 10 dose vials. For this period, we ordered two doses per child and increased the number of doses because of a higher estimate of loss when using 10 dose vials. We ordered 30,000 doses of hepatitis B.

• MMR: We ordered 15,000 doses of this vaccine, because we decided to give one inoculation per child. This reduced our requirement. The price of this vaccine was the same as our estimate $1.50 per dose.

• Syringes: We estimated $.50 per syringe. The actual cost was $.07 each. We ordered 45,000.

• Safety and Disposal Materials: We did not estimate any cost for this. However, we are required to use these items for each shipment.

B. Operations

• Shipment and Handling: These costs exceeded our estimate. One reason is that each vaccine and the syringes were shipped separately from different locations.
• Banners: We ordered more banners than estimated in order to better cover all the clinics.
• Contingency Buffer: This is required by UNICEF to cover any exchange rate costs not foreseen.
• Vaccine Testing Certificate; Russia requires that 10 doses of each vaccine shipment be tested in Moscow. They then issue a certificate. We have to pay this cost. This was an unexpected cost.
• Insurance: This cost was included in shipping and handling.

C. Personnel

Trip to Vladivostok: Only one person went to Vladivostok because we did not begin inoculations during this period. This cost will be reflected in our next 6-month report. Funds for this trip have not been expended from our 3-H account.

Vlad-Eco Rotary

A. We have separated the Cameron Park 3-H Grant account and the Vlad-Eco 3-H Grant account for this report because we do not complete information from VladEco at this tine. We hope to get complete information within 2-3 weeks, and that information will be sent as soon as we get it.

B. Operations

Vaccine testing was an unforeseen cost.

ADDED NOTES

A. The revised budget and next 6 months spending plan will be submitted after inoculations begin and we have an opportunity to assess our plan to inoculate children up 6 years old in the whole Krai (state). We believe we can increase our coverage and stay within the approved budget.

B. Our project will benefit greatly if Rotary International can obtain Humanitarian Status in Russia. This could reduce the time required to clear customs in Vladivostok by about 2-3 months

Attachments

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ATTACHMENTS FOR THIS REPORT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS COPY. IF YOU WISH A COPY OF THEM PLEASE CONTACT ME AND I WILL MAKE A COPY OF THE ONES THAT YOU WANT AND SEND THEM LATER.

YOU CAN CONTACT ME BY E-MAIL red@directcon.net or by phone # (530)762-8825