Basic Medicines and Vaccines -
Eradicate Preventable Childhood Diseases

Because many children do not receive proper nutrition and pure water, millions die each year from preventable diseases. It is difficult to know precisely how many children die annually from such diseases (since so many children "fall through the cracks") but estimates range from 3 to 5 million worldwide.

In addition to these millions of deaths each year, some 5 million more children are blinded, crippled, or otherwise permanently disabled by vaccine-preventable diseases. The World Health Organization, which operates the Expanded Programme on Immunization in Geneva, Switzerland, has identified six main vaccine-preventable diseases. They are: Diphtheria, Measles, Polio, Tetanus, Tuberculosis, and Whooping Cough.

1.4 million children die annually from measles alone. Measles is the leading cause of death in Ugandan hospitals. Polio afflicts paralysis upon nearly 200,000 children per year. Tetanus accounts for an additional 800,000 childhood deaths annually. Tuberculosis is on the rise worldwide and claims over a million lives.

In addition to these vaccine-treatable diseases, there are other killers and cripplers. Worldwide there are 500 million cases of Malaria; 4 million cases of Pneumonia; and 4 million cases of Diarrhea. All of these diseases can be conquered with the proper medications.

Food For Children is collaborating with the Cry for the World Foundation, and the Pharmaceutical Programme in Nairobi Kenya, to provide medications for children in developing countries. In addition to vaccines for those diseases mentioned above, our goal is to provide basic generic drugs for those who have no access to them.

There are approximately 20 essential drugs that are needed. These include aspirin and acetaminophen for pain and fever; antibiotics to cure infectious diseases; vitamins for essential child development; and blood pressure pills to reduce the occurrence of heart attack and stroke. Together with our collaborators, we are implementing a system to provide these basic medicines to those who so badly need them.