In Bolivia, a profound health crisis is met with hope and action, thanks to the dedicated efforts of individuals like Iris Saavedra-Zaldivar and the Rotary Club of Oak Park- River Forest. Their mission addresses one of the most pressing public health challenges in the region: combating the human papillomavirus (HPV) through education and vaccination.
Bolivia has the highest rate of cervical cancer in all of South America. HPV, a common virus, is a primary cause of this cancer, as well as several other cancers affecting both women and men. Despite the availability of life-saving vaccines, the nation faces significant hurdles in its immunization efforts. This is largely due to a critical lack of healthcare resources and infrastructure, which leaves vulnerable of all ages and genders exposed.
Saavedra-Zaldivar and the Rotary Club directly confronts these barriers. Their work goes beyond simply administering vaccines; it involves a comprehensive campaign of community education to inform families about the critical importance of the HPV vaccine in preventing future cancers.
This campaign is part of Rotary International’s broader mission of disease prevention and treatment. While Rotary is renowned for its decades-long fight to eradicate polio worldwide, its efforts extend to combating a wide range of conditions, including malaria, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. A core tenet of this work is the emphasis on prevention, achieved through health education and by bringing basic health care services like routine hearing, vision, and dental care to underserved populations around the globe.
Visit oprfrotary.org to learn more and get involved in this local service organization.