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DG 2002-04 |
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Rtn. Dr. Varinder
Singh Sur
On Saturday the 25th
May 2002 at the Nile Hotel Kampala, Rotarian Dr Varinder Singh
Sur, from the Rotary Club of Bahari-Mombasa was installed as the
District Governor of Rotary International District 9200 comprising
of five countries namely Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and
Uganda.
Born in Nairobi, Kenya
he was brought up in Mombasa and schooled at the Allidina Visram
High School. He proceeded to India where he graduated as a Doctor
from The Punjab University. On his return he was trained at The
Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi in family medicine. Proceeded to the
Johns Hopkins University, USA for Family Health and Family Planning
Management course. Has been in his private medical practice since
1982.
During his school career
he was the Hockey Captain, played hockey for the Coast Hockey
Association and was called to trials for the Kenya National team
in 1969. He was the National St. Johns Brigade Champion and Troop
Leader for 1st Scouts Troop qualifying for Lions Scout Award.
Had a distinguished sports career in the Medical school and practically
toured the whole of India playing hockey. He was the Chairman
of the Coast Hockey Association for 6 years. In 1984 successfully
organized the East African Hockey Championship in Mombasa and
in 1987 staged the first Asia vs Africa Hockey Test match in Mombasa.
He joined the Rotary Club of Bahari-Mombasa in 1985. Since then
he has been a committed and a dedicated Rotarian. He played a
key role in the development of the Jaipur Foot Project and its
Endowment Fund in 1992. The fund which had its humble launch at
Kshs 2 million today stands at Kshs 5 million. Jaipur foot prosthesis
are provided free of cost to any amputee reporting at the APDK
Port Reitz where the project is housed. Was the Club Chairman
in 1995-96, when he steered the club to great heights. The club
was declared the best club in the district with highest awards
ever won by one club in the district. That year the Bomani project
took its roots with the Bomani Malde Clinic and later a Social
Welfare Centre and a water project. At the centre women learn
crafts to augment their incomes, youth are taught vocations like
carpentry to get useful occupations, a kindergarten is run in
the morning and adult literacy classes in the evening thus making
it an ideal village project. He has assisted the club in developing
matching grants with overseas clubs. Just approved is the matching
grant of US $ 44,000 for the Ziwani School for the Deaf rehabilitation
project. Also developed an avoidable blindness project with four
Rotary clubs at the Coast worth US $ 20,000 to undertake 500 cataract
surgeries in Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi and Malindi. He was instrumental
in the formation of the Rotary Coast PolioPlus Committee constituted
by all the Rotary, Innerwheel and Rotaract clubs at the Coast.
First as project director and then as the Chairman of the Coast
PolioPlus undertook the first ever Immunization Days in 1992 in
Mombasa. The eradication of Polio originated from the success
of the Rotary Coast PolioPlus and today there is no reported case
of Polio at the Coast and Kenya. He was awarded the Regional Award
by Rotary Foundation for the efforts of Polio eradication.
Varinder also served on various District posts excelling in PolioPlus
programmees. He served as Governor Nominee for one year and as
Governor elect for one year. As Governor elect he undertook his
first training in October 2001 at Lyon, France and the final training
in February 2002 at Anaheim, California, USA. Both trainings are
conducted by Rotary International and are mandatory before one
assumes the office of the District Governor.
Dr Varinder Singh Sur has also been a very active member in his
Sikh community. He has served the Siri Guru Nanak Clinic as Medical
Director for 18 years and has seen it grow from a simple out patient
dispensary to a full blown Day care centre. He initiated the Medical
fund in the community and served as the chairman for six years.
Also initiated and saw to completion a mini sports complex in
the community.
Dr Varinder Singh Sur is married to Chhani Sur who was born in
Mombasa and is a Pharmacist who graduated from Nairobi University.
She is the branch manager in Mombasa for Surgipharm. He has two
sons and both sons have had a distinguished academic and sports
careers in school. His elder son has just joined the University
of Birmingham to study medicine.
Past
DG's
District
Officers
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