Vaccination against 5 diseases (diphtheria, whooping cough,
tetanus, polio and measles) reaches more than 100 million children every year,
in every corner of the world, rich and poor, urban and rural. But more than 20
million children a year do not receive all of their basic immunizations and 1,500,000
children died in 2010 due to vaccine preventable diseases.
There are many challenges in reaching children
with life-saving vaccines and other health services. In many places, the major
one is simple logistics. Remote areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo have
no electricity, no phones, no TV, and the roads are in such pitiful condition,
cars cannot use them and it can take 12 hours to go 50 miles by motorcycle. I
was in the Equateur Region of DRC recently and learned that they can only do
supervision and deliver supplies by boat. But many of health workers are
uncomfortable going by boat, because they can't swim and have no life jackets.
The donation of a life jacket would make it possible for supervisors and others
to travel safely by boat to deliver vaccines and other life-saving health
interventions.
| Children receive polio vaccine, Mbandaka, DR Congo |
If you would like to donate a new or gently used PFD, please
drop it off at
Outside World
471 Quill Drive
Dawsonville, GA 30534
or
1025 Broadway
Columbus, GA 31901
Tax deductions for your donations coming soon.
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