What Can You DO to Give Kids a Shot@Life?
While I was at the Shot@Life Conference last week, I learned a lot. I learned a lot of facts.
- Polio is almost eradicated
- Global healthcare is only a fraction of the tiny 1% we spend on foreign aid
- Healthcare in poor countries is getting better, but it's not there yet
- One fourth of ALL childhood deaths are preventable through simple things like vaccines, sanitation, and clean water
I also learned a bit about parenting in a third world country. A lot of mothers there don't name their children at birth. They are afraid to until the baby has survived those critical first few months. They are literally afraid to name their children because they don't want to get too attached to them yet.
I try to imagine parenting that way. Going through a pregnancy and a difficult birth, but not being able to bond with your baby. Feeding and caring for her, but not daring to love her fully because you don't know yet if she is going to survive. You know this because it has happened to your sister, and your best friend, and the lady across the street, and maybe a dozen other women in your village. It is common for a baby to die. So you don't dare name her just yet, so you don't get as attached. Just in case...
These people live hard lives and there are a lot of factors we can't do anything to fix - wars, droughts, famine, just poverty in general. But getting these parents vaccines to protect their children against killer diseases like measles and rotavirus - that we CAN do. In fact, it's not even that hard. Just $20 will provide the vaccines to protect a child from all the major diseases. That's a pizza in our world. Even $5 will help. That's a fast food lunch or a latte. It's barely a blip on our radar. How significant is that when it could mean life to a child?
So, if you want to DO something, here are several things you can do:
DONATE: This is the link to our Utah Team Shot@Life donation link. When you donate, it goes directly to Shot@Life and the UN Foundation to fund global immunization programs.
WALK or RUN: I know a lot of you are these athletic types who run marathons and do lots of crazy things like that. Did you know you can generate charity donations with your activity? Download the Charity Miles app on your phone and you can select from several charities - including Shot@Life for the funds generated by your exercise. How easy is that? It's available in the Apps store for both iPhone and Android phones.
ADVOCATE: Pop over and join Shot@Life (ShotatLife.org) and learn how to become an advocate, or even a Champion like me. Together we're doing some very cool things, like fun local events, media appearances, and even holding meetings with our local legislator (or if you're shy, you can just send them an Email or a letter!).
- Polio is almost eradicated
- Global healthcare is only a fraction of the tiny 1% we spend on foreign aid
- Healthcare in poor countries is getting better, but it's not there yet
- One fourth of ALL childhood deaths are preventable through simple things like vaccines, sanitation, and clean water
I also learned a bit about parenting in a third world country. A lot of mothers there don't name their children at birth. They are afraid to until the baby has survived those critical first few months. They are literally afraid to name their children because they don't want to get too attached to them yet.
I try to imagine parenting that way. Going through a pregnancy and a difficult birth, but not being able to bond with your baby. Feeding and caring for her, but not daring to love her fully because you don't know yet if she is going to survive. You know this because it has happened to your sister, and your best friend, and the lady across the street, and maybe a dozen other women in your village. It is common for a baby to die. So you don't dare name her just yet, so you don't get as attached. Just in case...
These people live hard lives and there are a lot of factors we can't do anything to fix - wars, droughts, famine, just poverty in general. But getting these parents vaccines to protect their children against killer diseases like measles and rotavirus - that we CAN do. In fact, it's not even that hard. Just $20 will provide the vaccines to protect a child from all the major diseases. That's a pizza in our world. Even $5 will help. That's a fast food lunch or a latte. It's barely a blip on our radar. How significant is that when it could mean life to a child?
So, if you want to DO something, here are several things you can do:
DONATE: This is the link to our Utah Team Shot@Life donation link. When you donate, it goes directly to Shot@Life and the UN Foundation to fund global immunization programs.
WALK or RUN: I know a lot of you are these athletic types who run marathons and do lots of crazy things like that. Did you know you can generate charity donations with your activity? Download the Charity Miles app on your phone and you can select from several charities - including Shot@Life for the funds generated by your exercise. How easy is that? It's available in the Apps store for both iPhone and Android phones.
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| Photo credit: Elenna Sonino of LiveGrowDo.com |
The point is, do SOMETHING. If you're a parent, how can you not want to reach out and help these parents who just want to give their kids the same things we take for granted - a first tooth, a huge smile, tickles and kisses, their first steps, going to school. Every kid should have a chance at things like these. So, let's make sure that they do.
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| Photo credit: Life's a Gift Photography |
4 comments:
I had no idea that they didn't name their babies right away. That is so incredibly sad to be afraid to bond with your baby. I'll check out the app so I can log my miles.
Thank you so much! I am excited to have others to help with this great cause.
This is an incredible and important post. I'll definitely check out the app. Thank you for visiting my blog this weekend!
http://thegrassskirtblog.com
My kis ae 26 and 22 but these are still very valid points for parents with school age children.
Happy SITsharefest!
Cathy
http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/
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