Serving Humanity

Rotary wins Best Nonprofit Act for its polio eradication work

Sukhpreet with inputs from Rotary.org. Rotary’s commitment to eradicating polio worldwide won Best Nonprofit Act in the Hero Awards of the One Billion Acts of Peace campaign, an international global citizens’ movement to tackle the world’s most important issues. The campaign is an initiative of Peace Jam Foundation and is led by 14 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, including the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Rigoberta Menchú Tum, with the ambitious goal of inspiring a billion acts of peace by 2020.  Each year, the campaign picks two finalists in each of six categories for their work to make a measurable impact in one of the 10 areas considered most important by the Nobel laureates. Winners are chosen by people from around the world.  .Rotary and Mercy Corps were the two finalists in the Best Nonprofit Act category. Rotary and the five other winners will be recognized at a ceremony on  in Monaco. Betty Williams, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 for her advocacy for peace in Northern Ireland, will present the award.

Toronto Public Health investigating measles in an adult who travelled abroad

Toronto Public Health has said that it’s investigating a lab-confirmed case of measles in an adult who recently travelled abroad. Members of the public may have been exposed to measles on three international flights on May 30. Toronto Public Health has said that the affected person was on Ukraine International Airlines flight PS423, Icelandair flight FI529 and Icelandair flight FI603. Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily to those who are susceptible. Anyone who has not had two doses of a measles vaccine or who has not had measles in the past is at risk of infection.

All people who may have been exposed are advised to check their immunization record, watch for symptoms of measles, such as high fever, cold-like symptoms, sore eyes or sensitivity to light and a red rash lasting four to seven days.