A British dentist is the new president of Rotary International, a network of 46,000 clubs in 200 countries including Kenya.
Gordon McInally, member of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, Lothian, Scotland, began his one-year term as president of Rotary International on July 1.
A statement from Rotary International said that during his term, McInally will focus on steering the global membership service organisation with an emphasis on mental health, recognising its critical role in community well-being worldwide.
It said McInally aims to create a culture that understands and supports mental health, while working to reduce stigma, increase awareness, and improve access to mental health services.
With 1.4 million members in 200 countries and regions, Rotary will continue to actively address mental health as part of its ongoing efforts to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges, the statement added.
“Mental health has often been a less talked-about aspect of wellness. However, in a world grappling with various challenges, it is imperative that we bring mental health to the forefront. Rotary, with its widespread network, has the capacity to foster dialogue and support,” said McInally. “By emphasizing mental health, we can make a considerable difference in communities around the world. This is about nurturing humanity for a better tomorrow.”
Rotary members develop and implement sustainable, community-driven projects that fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children, grow local economies and protect the environment, the organisation said.
It added that more than US$5.5 billion has been awarded through The Rotary Foundation – Rotary’s charitable arm that helps clubs work together to perform meaningful, impactful service—to support these initiatives over the last 100 years.
As head of Rotary’s global network of 46,000 clubs, McInally will also oversee Rotary’s top goal of eradicating polio. Alongside its Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, Rotary has achieved a 99.9 per cent reduction in polio cases, and contributed more than US$2.6 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children from this paralyzing disease, the statement added.
McInally, a graduate of dental surgery at the University of Dundee, owned and operated his own dental practice in Edinburgh.
He was the chair of the East of Scotland branch of the British Paedodontic Society and has also served in other charitable organizations including as an ambassador for Bipolar UK and as a patron of the UK-based nonprofit Hope and Homes for Children.
A member of Rotary since 1984, McInally has been president and vice president of Rotary International in the UK.