I joined the Rotary Club of Coquitlam in 2014 when my commitment to local Girl Guide leading reduced. I wanted to continue my community service locally and incorporate a wider international focus. Consistent with the Rotary commitment to Service Above Self, our club supports a variety of local community and international projects, including the ongoing drive to eradicate Polio.
In 2015 I received a Rotary International Global Grant to lead a medical outreach and educational program in the Sacred Valley Region of Peru. I had volunteered with a medical outreach program in the valley in 2014 and identified many needs that where not addressed by simply dropping into the remote villages occasionally. The Quechua are a gentle people who live as subsistence farmers in very isolated locations above 4000m. There is no infrastructure, electricity or clean water. They have limited access to medical care and no emergency response mechanisms. Calling for help entails someone climbing a mountain to get cell phone service, if they recognize the emergency. Working with an on the ground organization, DESEA Peru and the Rotary Club of Cusco, I led our team of health care professionals in 3 week campaign to expand the knowledge of local health promotors, DESEA staff, community members, and Health Posta workers in the areas of: disease identification and prevention, emergency first aid, safe birthing and post partum hemorrhage and conflict resolution. Our project received the International Service Multi Club Award for District 5050 in 2016. I continue to return annually to provide ongoing support, education and medical services to these remote Andean communities. Assisting in the education and empowerment of many shy, isolated, and often illiterate women has been inspiring.
“Dr. Kathleen Ross has been a strong supporter of DESEA Peru, providing valuable, relevant and culturally-sensitive care to the indigenous populations of the Andes, as well as overall support for diverse aspects of the DESEA Peru project. We have found Kathleen to have the unique quality of being both a strong leader and a team player. She is highly organized, motivated, passionate and positive, and has an incredible gift of bringing people together. Kathleen has been an important part of DESEA Peru’s success, supporting the project with fundraising, promotion, and highly effective medical and educational services. There is no doubt that Kathleen would bring these same valuable skills to the position of President. “
Sandra McGirr
President, DESEA Peru