Africa is on my mind. John has shared with me so many stories and beautiful pictures from his trip there, that I can't stop thinking of the people even though I have never met them. They are a gorgeous people, and the children are impishly cute. John said there were kids everywhere. Some villages seemed to be filled with mobs of children, and hardly any adults could be found. Perhaps this is because on average there are 8 children per adult.
It's a complex problem. A large unemployment rate leaves a lot of spare time with not much to do. The mortality rate is high, so having more children will ensure that at least some will live. Culturally it's not uncommon to have a large family. And education on contraception and family planning is only recently becoming available.
Showing posts with label Living Proof. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Living Proof. Show all posts
Friday, January 28, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Day 84: Short Listed
Rotavirus is on the short-list of childhood illnesses that is being dominated by research and science. There is hope for children around the world, that they may not have to suffer from this virus for much longer and lives can be saved. It is the most common cause for diarrheal diseases in children under the age of 5, and is the cause of more than 500,000 child deaths each year.
Huge steps have been made in the last decade in securing a safe vaccination against this disease, and it has become more widely used even in the last two years. "In June 2009, the World Health Organization recommended that the rotavirus vaccination be included in all national immunization programs to provide protection against this virus...WHO announced that clinical trials of Rotarix vaccine “in high-mortality, low-socioeconomic settings of South Africa and Malawi, found that the vaccine significantly reduced severe diarrhea episodes due to rotavirus.” WHO now recommends that rotavirus vaccine be included in all national immunization programs and the incidence of rotavirus disease in the United States has declined since introduction of rotavirus vaccination for children." Wikipedia
Isla received her vaccination, and took each of them (there are 3 doses) like a champ. Slurped it down like it was candy. Other children, all over the world, are going to be given the opportunity as well. For some the journey will be to a nearby clinic, just down the street. Others may have to travel a long way to receive this medicine. But the distance is worth it. No more upset tummies, dehydration, or diarrhea. That is good news.
Living Proof | A Rotavirus Vaccine's Journey from ONE Campaign on Vimeo.
Huge steps have been made in the last decade in securing a safe vaccination against this disease, and it has become more widely used even in the last two years. "In June 2009, the World Health Organization recommended that the rotavirus vaccination be included in all national immunization programs to provide protection against this virus...WHO announced that clinical trials of Rotarix vaccine “in high-mortality, low-socioeconomic settings of South Africa and Malawi, found that the vaccine significantly reduced severe diarrhea episodes due to rotavirus.” WHO now recommends that rotavirus vaccine be included in all national immunization programs and the incidence of rotavirus disease in the United States has declined since introduction of rotavirus vaccination for children." Wikipedia
Isla received her vaccination, and took each of them (there are 3 doses) like a champ. Slurped it down like it was candy. Other children, all over the world, are going to be given the opportunity as well. For some the journey will be to a nearby clinic, just down the street. Others may have to travel a long way to receive this medicine. But the distance is worth it. No more upset tummies, dehydration, or diarrhea. That is good news.
Living Proof | A Rotavirus Vaccine's Journey from ONE Campaign on Vimeo.
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Day 9: Living Proof, Part 2
Developmental aid is a key to meeting and relieving poverty around the world. Bill and Melinda Gates discussed yesterday how this aid is being used, and highlighted Living Proof that poverty, illness, and mortality is diminishing because of the generous aid of wealthy nations.
Here is good news:
-In the last 50 years, childhood death rates have decreased from 20 million to less than 9 million, even while birth rates were increasing.
-50 million additional children are in primary school than from 10 years ago.
-Because vaccines are more available, infectious diseases (tetanus, diphtheria, measles) are down between 85-93%.
-Population growth is stabilizing/decreasing because families are staying smaller when they know their children will live.
-Polio is close to being eradicated from the earth, with only 4 countries left that have infected patients. This is saving lives, and money is being saved rather than being spent on medical/hospital costs incurred from the illness.
-Ethiopia has opened 15,000 remote healthcare clinics since 2003, and has trained 35,000 healthcare workers. Resulting in decreased childhood mortality, and improved prenatal and postnatal care.
-The Global Fund was established 8 years ago. Now there are 2.8 million people on anti-retroviral medications for HIV/AIDS, 7 million cases of tuberculosis have been diagnosed and treated, and 122 million bed nets have been distributed that along with indoor spraying have resulted in malaria being decreased by more than 50%.
Great gains are being made in this fight. Lives are being saved, families are being raised out of poverty, education is becoming more accessible, and societies more prosperous. I look forward to seeing poverty continue to diminish throughout my lifetime, and yours, Miss Isla.
Here is good news:
-In the last 50 years, childhood death rates have decreased from 20 million to less than 9 million, even while birth rates were increasing.
-50 million additional children are in primary school than from 10 years ago.
-Because vaccines are more available, infectious diseases (tetanus, diphtheria, measles) are down between 85-93%.
-Population growth is stabilizing/decreasing because families are staying smaller when they know their children will live.
-Polio is close to being eradicated from the earth, with only 4 countries left that have infected patients. This is saving lives, and money is being saved rather than being spent on medical/hospital costs incurred from the illness.
-Ethiopia has opened 15,000 remote healthcare clinics since 2003, and has trained 35,000 healthcare workers. Resulting in decreased childhood mortality, and improved prenatal and postnatal care.
-The Global Fund was established 8 years ago. Now there are 2.8 million people on anti-retroviral medications for HIV/AIDS, 7 million cases of tuberculosis have been diagnosed and treated, and 122 million bed nets have been distributed that along with indoor spraying have resulted in malaria being decreased by more than 50%.
Great gains are being made in this fight. Lives are being saved, families are being raised out of poverty, education is becoming more accessible, and societies more prosperous. I look forward to seeing poverty continue to diminish throughout my lifetime, and yours, Miss Isla.
Labels:
Bill Gates,
Global Fund,
global poverty,
Living Proof,
Melinda Gates
Monday, October 18, 2010
Day 8: Living Proof, Part 1
Living Proof is a campaign originally started by Bill and Melinda Gates, and has recently been transferred to the ONE organization. This campaign is highlighting the progress that has been made in the fight against poverty. Tangible evidence that there has been a reduction in disease and unnecessary deaths, and in turn has been improving lives and developing prosperous societies.
This video is of the talk that Bill and Melinda Gates gave today in Britain. Start it around minute 20:45 to get to the actual talk.
Labels:
Bill Gates,
global poverty,
Living Proof,
Melinda Gates,
ONE
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