A joint project of “Project Deaf India’ by the Rotary club of Newport Balboa ,Dist 5320  and Rotary club of Pune,India ,Dist 3130,  with the support of a $50,000 grant from the Rotary Foundation has resulted in giving Rubella vaccinations to 50,000 preadolescent girls.The project was conducted by the doctors of Pune city& school authorities & local Rotarians.

It is well known that a Rubella vaccination given to teenage girls will prevent DEAFNESS,BLINDNESS,NEWBORN HEART DISEASE AND MENTAL RETARDATION IN THEIR FUTURE OFFSPRING.

This was the first pilot project of Rubella VACCINATION in the city of PUNE and perhaps in India. There are still 150,000 more  girls to be vaccinated, in Pune. Dr Desai wishes to apply for a 3H grant to complete vaccination of all the remaining girls in PUNE city. He also hopes that this will create awareness by the GOVERNMENT OF INDIA to vaccinate  the teen girl population in the whole of India. It is well recognized that Prevention by vaccination is the most economical way to prevent diseases where a vaccine is available. India has one of the highest incidences of Deafness in the world ( 4.0 million or more). Dr Desai wishes to thank other Rotary Clubs in District 5320 who also gave funds to support the Project.