More than 29,000 young children have died of malnutrition and disease in Somalia in the past 90 days. We are now on our way to the Horn of Africa to see what more we as a nation can do.

Early this morning, our plane left Washington, D.C., bound for East Africa. I’m flying with Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden and USAID Administrator Raj Shah to study the famine’s effects on the lives of more than 12 million people, many of them children.

In fact, it is now being called “the children’s famine.”

Over the years, I have delivered medical care in refugee camps on a number of trips, both to camps in Darfur, in Chad (right on the border of Sudan), and in boy soldier camps in southern Sudan. I went as a doctor. Providing age-appropriate health care to the compromised and malnourished children and adults is crucial to combat rapidly spreading disease and death.

It begins with identifying the specific needs, which we will be doing, then ensuring access, which is a challenge especially in Somalia.

Aid agencies estimate that more than $1 billion more is needed during this critical period to stop further deaths and get proper food, water and health care especially to the children who are most vulnerable.

In the camps we visit, I will focus on the vaccinations given for measles, polio and malaria; oral rehydration distributed to those suffering from diarrhea; and vitamins for children to bolster their immune systems. These are simple, cheap interventions to fight disease in the malnourished. I am eager to learn what is being accomplished and what more needs to be done. America has done a lot which has lessened the unfolding tragedy in the region, but there is a lot more we can do to reverse the course underway.

We will learn much over the next few days. I am on this trip to hear the stories of the families and their journeys, and I will share those stories with you.

Please sign the ONE petition today to urge world leaders to provide the full funding that the UN has identified as necessary to help people in the Horn of Africa, and please keep your promises to deliver the long term solutions which could prevent crises like this from happening again.

-Sen. Bill Frist, MD, chair of Hope Through Healing Hands

Hope Through Healing Hands is excited to announce a partnership with the Brad Paisley H2O World Tour—the Water=Hope campaign!

Around the globe, one out of every seven people lacks access to clean, safe drinking water. Clean water means better health. Better health means a better education—and a better education means communities that can better fight poverty. We won’t solve the global water crisis overnight—or even on one summer concert tour—but the combined efforts of many individuals can make a huge impact in improving the quality of life for millions of people around the world.

It really is that simple. A small drop can make a huge ripple.

So how can you get involved? First, we need volunteers. Look to see if we’re coming to a city near you—and then sign up! It’s a perfect summer volunteer opportunity: talk to people in your community about clean water, check out a great music show, and help spread the word about the Water = Hope campaign!

And we also need your advocacy. Call or write your representative or senator and let them know you support the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2009. This bill sets a goal of reaching 100 million people with first-time, sustainable access to safe drinking water and sanitation by 2015.

To learn more about the clean water crisis, don’t miss this video by our Board Chair Senator Bill Frist.

-Jenny Dyer, Executive Director, Hope Through Healing Hands

Last week during the Next Big Nashville conference, Jenny Dyer of Hope Through Healing Hands participated in a panel– moderated by Charlie Peacock– on how artists can help charities and causes. Particularly given the economic climate, many artists are looking for creative ways to support the issues that matter to them.

Jenny talked about different ways artists can help, including everything from sign-up sheets and shout-outs, to text messaging and PSA’s. You can read her account of the panel on Hope Through Healing Hands’ blog here.

Jenny Dyer of Hope Through Healing Hands just passed along this great blog post from Senator Bill Frist. Check it out!

We had a fantastic event on Saturday morning with the women of Grace Chapel Church here in Leipers Fork, TN. What an amazing bunch of women!

A few months ago, my good friend Reese Smith introduced the Knit One, Save One Campaign, a national grassroots effort launched by the global humanitarian organization Save the Children and the Warm Up America Foundation, to his wife, Emily, an avid knitter and member of the “Knitting with Grace” club at the church. The initiative aims to draw attention to the 4 million newborns that die each year in the first month of life in the developing world. Participants are asked to make a baby cap, and are also encouraged to write a personal note to President-elect Barack Obama urging him to lead the way to save millions of babies globally.

Emily Smith, Beth Ann Bright, Mary Bit Mahaffey and a number of other women in the group committed to 100 caps. And, like the story of the loaves and the fishes, they just multiplied exponentially! Saturday, the “Knitting with Grace” club presented me with over 500 knitted caps and over 500 caps made by machine. Over 1000 caps!

These little caps will each be shipped, along with thousands from all 50 states to pregnant women and new moms and their babies in Save the Children’s programs in Africa and Asia. Hypothermia is a contributing cause of death for newborns, especially small babies unable to maintain their body temperature. To keep infants safe and warm, these little caps will be given for them to wear along with helpful advice to moms about hygiene and breastfeeding. These little caps will be a key component of a life saving package.

It was so exciting to see the amazing work these women had done. Thank you Grace Chapel Church for your initiative, advocacy, awareness-raising, and hard work for the least of these.

Read more about the campaign, and see how many caps Americans have made. The deadline for the project has been extended to January 31st. Let us know if you would like to be involved!

Best,

Senator Bill Frist, M.D.

P.S. Go to Hope through Healing Hands for more information on this project and other simple things you can do to save lives.