Rotary’s commitment to creating a healthier world

By Rotary Service and Engagement Staff

Rotary members are committed to fighting and preventing diseases. In fact, 15 of our 26 Rotarian Action Groups (RAGs) are focused on disease prevention and treatment. Rotarian Action Groups help Rotary clubs and districts plan and carry out community development and humanitarian service projects. Here are a few examples of RAGs whose members are committed to applying their expertise to fighting disease:

The Alzheimer’s / Dementia Rotarian Action Group (ADRAG) aims to help those who face the challenge of dealing with family members and citizens that are afflicted with Alzheimer’s and/or dementia. ADRAG is involved in various projects and initiatives; they are currently working with 21 districts. Read about their work.
Rotarians for Family Health and AIDS Prevention (RFHA) helps clubs and districts plan and implement large scale projects that improve lives and provide access to health-related education, preventative health care, and resources for treatment. Their signature Rotary Family Health Days program promotes disease prevention and treatment by implementing a massive, annual campaign across hundreds of sites in four countries in Africa and in India that provides free health care services to thousands of people in underprivileged communities.
Food Plant Solutions Rotarian Action Group focuses on addressing malnutrition, hunger and food security through the use of readily available local food plants. This self-sustaining solution empowers people to understand local food plant resources and allows them to feed themselves and their families. Learn more about their work.
Rotarian Action Group for Diabetes assists clubs and districts on projects that provide a strong commitment to education, identification, and treatment of diabetes, especially among children in developing countries, while raising awareness of this devastating disease throughout the Rotary world. Read more.

Technicians work in a lab at the Pasteur Institute of Cote d’Ivoire, which monitors for polio.

A patient is welcomed to La Halte Repit, or “A Pause for Rest,” a Rotary club-sponsored day center for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

In observance of Rotary Disease Prevention and Treatment Month in December, we encourage you to collaborate with an action group on a club or district health care project. Download a list of all disease prevention and treatment focused action groups and make your next project more impactful.

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