Chad, along with eighteen other African countries, began immunization of 85 million children against polio in a massive immunization campaign. The campaign has high level support and was launched by Heads of State and Health Ministers across the continent on March 6.
President Idris Deby Itno of Chad initiated the campaign by immunizing a child and announcing, “I am personally declaring war on polio.” He called on the entire nation to stop “this terrible disease,” emphasizing that it is “about the lives of our children.” His leadership is especially important given that Chad had been unable to stop polio outbreaks within its borders for more than two years, resulting in the spread of the disease to neighboring countries including Sudan, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic.
As UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow shared with you earlier, she was in Chad for her eleventh visit to the country to help with their polio vaccination campaign, highlighting the need for vaccinations to reach the most vulnerable children.
This impressive, synchronized campaign is made possible in large part by the support of $30 million in funding from Rotary International.
Photo Credit: WHO/UNICEF
On Sunday ONE LA and ONE Santa Monica co-hosted a team meeting at the Church in Ocean Park in Santa Monica. Rachel Andres, of Jewish World Watch, was our guest speaker and spoke to us about the Solar Cooker Project.
Right now, women and girls in refugee camps in Chad risk rape and other forms of gender-based violence when leaving the relative safety of the camps to collect firewood – which is essential for cooking the basic food supplies provided by relief agencies.
Solar Cookers are devises that cook food using electricity from the sun’s rays and the Solar Cooker Project aims to improve the safety and survival of women in refugee camps in Chad.
Rachel gave an emotional presentation about this wonderful project and her very recent visit to two refugee camps in Chad where the project has been put to work. (more…)
