Vaccine to be provided for African children
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"For the love of children," the Church will help the young people of Kenya and Ivory Coast receive more than a million polio immunizations.
The Church has donated $250,000 for vaccine and refrigeration, as well as public education for the two African countries. The money was given to the Rotary International PolioPlus project, which provides polio immunization for children throughout the world, said Walter Maddocks, project executive director."This is one of the most significant contributions that we have received," he said.
Maddocks and a group of associates, including Herbert G. Brown, chairman of the project, visited the First Presidency June 17 and presented a sculpture of a family to President Ezra Taft Benson and President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency. President Benson and President Monson expressed their appreciation for the Rotary International project and said the contribution was made because of their love for children.
"We love children, too," said Brown. "We have the satisfaction of knowing these hapless, helpless children will not be crippled. Donations such as these help save lives and eliminate human suffering."
Rotary International has 1 million members in 162 countries and has raised some $222 million for worldwide vaccinations of children. Vaccinations have been given to some 100 million children in 41 countries.
From the funds donated by the Church, $60,000 will be used for immunizations in Ivory Coast and $100,000 for immunizations in Kenya. The donation provides vaccinations for about 1,280,000 children, as each dollar pays for immunizations for eight children, said Maddocks. Other funds already donated by Rotarians in the worldwide project will provide vaccinations for the rest of the children in these countries.
Additionally, $50,000 of the Church donation will be spent on gas and electric refrigerators that will preserve the vaccine in rural areas. The refrigerators also will be used for other vaccines handled by the World Health Organization.
The other $40,000 of the donation will be for public-educaiton programs in Ivory Coast and Kenya. The education programs help promote a country-wide day of vaccination. Some 80 to 85 percent of the children receive the vaccination, which is administered orally.
The vaccinations in Ivory Coast and Kenya are expected to take place this fall, said Maddocks.
