½-Dome-Climb-4-Tanzania Project

 Hi everyone,

Malaria and HIV/AIDS are the major cause of illness and death in Tanzania. CGI is working in partnership to address these infectious diseases as they have reemerged as a priority for public health in the United Republic of Tanzania. An estimated 3 million persons in Tanzania are HIV+

Addressing food borne /water borne illnesses, malaria, viral hepatitis, pneumococcal viruses, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, antimicrobial resistance all are factors in the Tanzanian Health Strategic Plan. These illness tend to hit hardest the most vulnerable populations—those in poverty, children and women.

CGI is working to collaborate with the Government of Tanzania to and support their immunization campaigns to combat the spread of infectious diseases. One of the primary strategies will be the use of vaccines. CGI is helping in the procurement and distribution of needed vaccinations and supporting efforts to increase immunization coverage rates for both children and at–risk adults.

Tanzania is not on track to meet the 2015 targets of reducing under-five mortality by two thirds unless urgent actions are taken.

Approximately 90% of all child deaths are attributable to common and preventable illnesses such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, malnutrition, HIV/AIDS and complications of low-birth-weight. Eight out of ten children die at home and six of them without any contact with formal health services.

CGI is working to change that, but we need your financial help, and/or volunteer time.

Malnutrition rates are unacceptably high among children and women. 16% of Tanzanian children are born with low birth weight (<2500 grams). Low birth weight has a greater risk of continued under-nutrition and mortality in the first year of life, and predisposes children to chronic diseases during adulthood.

Low birth weight is also a proxy indicator of maternal deprivation, thus perpetuating the intergenerational cycle of deprivation and malnutrition. The onset of malnutrition starts soon after birth, and peaks by 12-18 months of age. 44% of under-five-year-old children are stunted (do to chronic malnutrition).

Micronutrient malnutrition is rampant among women, about 14% in the highland and nearly 80% in coastal areas are anemic during pregnancy, and nearly 70% are vitamin A deficient. 25% of maternal deaths are associated with anemia.

Although malaria is technically preventable and curable if recognized and treated promptly, each year, it kills more than 1 million people—the majority, young children in Africa.

CGI is positioned to address these public health problems of infectious diseases and behavioral health problems through a collaborative with Tanzanian officials and indigenous workers comprehensive set of strategies. We are working on education, prevention, and treatment programs.

Our results have been great—thanks to your help in the past—but there is more to be done, and again, we need your help.

Our work in Tanzania started as a result of visiting there to climb, so each year we try to organize a fund-raising/awareness-raising climb.

As a follow-up to last year’s Rainier climb, this year I will be climbing Yosemite’s Half-Dome. The climb will be in August and all tax-deductable donations will go to the Center for Global Initiatives’ Tanzanian projects (orphanage, kindergarten, and hospital, see: http://centerforglobalinitiatives.org/projects_Tanzania.cfm for details and photos).

This year we need to raise a minimum of $5000 to help fund food, medications, and educational supplies for patients and orphaned children.

As always, I am personally paying for costs associated with the climb, and making a donation myself, and CGI is a 100% volunteer organization as well, so all (100%) of your generous contribution will go to the work in Tanzania.

They need your support in this effort by contributing generously. You can do so easily and securely at: http://centerforglobalinitiatives.org/donateNow.cfm  .

Whatever you can give will help – it all adds up!

Please send your tax-deductible donation by 15 August, and remember, 100% of your tax-deductible donation will go to work in Tanzania.

Even just a $1 makes a difference, and tell your friends!

Cheers, and thanks,

Chris