BRIEF SUMMARY OF DR DESAI'S VISIT TO INDIA 2005 AND ATTENDANCE TO CENTENNIAL CHICAGO ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION, June 2005
In Jan 2005, Dr Desai visited India for the seventh consecutive year, since He started PROJECT DEAF INDIA .The main purpose is to create more awareness of the GOALS of the project amongst Rotary clubs throughout India, to medical schools and practicing Physicians.
The two goals are, 1) To prevent high Incidence of Deafness and Rubella syndrome due to LACK 
OF MR= measles-Rubella vaccination in India
Rubella syndrome includes deafness, cataracts, newborn heart disease and mental retardation in a pregnant woman, exposed to Measles and Rubella infection in early pregnancy
The Government of India do not include MR vaccine in their NATIONAL VACCINATION SCHEME. This has resulted in high incidence of Rubella syndrome.
Interestingly, the vaccine is manufactured in PUNE, India and is available at a cost of approx one US dollar, including syringes and needles. The C D C Atlanta advices to give it all Teenage school girls so that their future offspring will be free of Rubella syndrome
Vaccination for various infectious diseases is the BEST prevention of the morbidity and mortality of the disease from our well established experience in the UK , USA and all developed countries. The recent experience of The Rotary International to eradicate POLIO from this Globe is the best example .
Dr Desai gave talks to Rotary Clubs and medical health personnel in several cities ,Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Mysore, Trivandrum, and Pune.
A new collaboration in the city of PUNE,( Near Mumbai) to start MR vaccination in the city of all preadolescent girls has been initiated with Dist 3130 of city of PUNE. A Matching grant will be soon applied to Rotary International between Pune clubs and Newport Balboa Rotary club
2) The second Goal of Project Deaf India is to start EHDI= EARLY DETECTION OF NEWBORN HEARING AND INTERVENTION.
For the past 15 years when the computerized equipment to detect Newborn hearing at Birth is available, all the developed nations have started the MANDATORY testing of newborns for hearing, before MOM and Baby are discharged after birth, from the Hospital This has allowed early diagnosis, follow up at regular intervals, to confirm the hearing loss and provide treatment soon such as surgery, Hearing aids or Cochlear Implants It is evident that early diagnosis permits how to establish communication with the Hearing impaired child The hearing aids and cochlear implants are given before age of one year to the Deaf child. Although long-term results are still being collected from EHDi, it is apparent that the ability to communicate and language acquisition may be superior .
India diagnoses deafness as a routine at age 4-6 years and by then the child has mostly LOST communication, cognitive and related skills.
This project is being started at several cities in India particularly in Mysore and Pune where our Rotary clubs have been collaborating.
During his visit to Pune Rotary Clubs, Dr Desai addressed a large energetic group of RYLA , some photos are included in this report
June 17 -23, 2005, there was a unique centennial Celebration Of Rotary International in Chicago, USA There were Rotarians from about 145 countries with an attendance of 41,000 from all over the GLOBE It was one of the most colorful gathering I have witnessed with the state of the art digital photography in a large convention center screen to inform an audience of 20,000 in plenay sessions that were repeated to accommodate large attendees. The fellowship hall , various EXHIBITIONS OF INTERNATIONAL projects and the whole organization were commendable The opening ceremonies and The city Rotary parade were colorful because of Rotarians from various nations with their Costumes displaying their FLAGS
I did not want to miss it despite its largeness, as I well knew I may not be around to celebrate the next centennial
A large representation of our District 5320 was present