This weekend, between barbecues and parades, many Americans learned
of the plight of the children of Africa through the publicity surrounding
the “Live Aid” concerts. Several TV commentators interviewed
world leaders familiar with the issues of poverty and illnesses, which
kill an estimated 3,000 children each day on the African continent (three
children per second). They all agreed that government corruption has
hampered aid efforts in the past. Next month, the G-8 nations will discuss
ways for the eight industrial nations to reach through the layers of
corruption in the African Nations to save these children and help bring
peace to the region.
A small team of Rotarians from Nevada County, California is completing
a project which could serve as a model for these future efforts. Utilizing
a $85,000 Matching Grant from the Rotary Foundation, this team has fully
equipped a small hospital in Uganda with an x-ray room, ambulance, dental
suite, maternity room, plus medications for the deadly childhood diseases.
Citizens of Nevada County joined in the effort, donating over a ton
of clothing, bedding towels and toys to the project. These were all
packed in the modified shipping container, which will serve as the complete
x-ray facility. The key to the project was the personal contact
between the Nevada County Rotarians and Rotary Leaders in Uganda which
made the project possible.
One medical/dental team has just returned from Uganda; the second will
leave for a three week mission in August. This direct personal contact
between Rotarians of the two countries eliminated any chance that corruption
would take any portion of the humanitarian goods. The Ugandan officials
saw average Americans taking time from their business and paying their
own expenses to help the children of Uganda. In turn, the Rotarians
of Uganda brought their country’s leadership to the project.
These leaders included:
- The Governor of the Bank of Uganda, Emmanuel Tumulione-Mutebile
- The Head of The Ugandan Revenue Authority, Allen Kagina
- A top official of the Ugandan Ministry of Health, Dr. Sam Zaramba
- The Uganda Minister of Defense, Amama Mbabazi
- The husband of a member of Ugandan’s Parliament, Dr. Frank
B. Mwesige
Two questions remain:
- How many of these “grass roots” projects would it take
to have governments recognize this model
instead of the failed models of the past?
- How many of the World’s 1,300,000 Rotarians would participate?
The answer to these questions may determine the future of Africa
and the future of it’s children.
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