Anyone who has been around MAP for very long knows that we are pretty proud of our programs. They constantly amaze us with an uncanny ability to produce outsized impact with a relatively small investment. Even through tough economic times, the staff that administers these programs are unwavering in their commitment to serving the world’s poor, and they always do it with an incomparable servant’s attitude. It is because of this that we are extra proud when we can showcase these not-so-modest highlights. The full report is 28 pages long (it was a busy year!), so what follows is a highlight of the highlights.
Medicines Program
If you’re reading this, you probably know about MAP’s medicines program, the one that has allowed us to ship $4 billion worth of lifesaving medicines to 2 billion people in need. But what you probably don’t know is that this program went through some pretty significant changes in 2011. Chief among these is that our global distribution center is now a Foreign Trade Zone, which allows MAP to supplement medicines shipments with critically needed drugs from overseas suppliers. All these changes were in the midst of MAP securing one of the top 3 medicines donations in the organization’s history – 6 million tablets of de-worming medicines that were distributed throughout Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Disaster Relief
If you’re reading this, you also probably know that MAP typically responds to natural disasters with crucial medicines and supplies. Unlike in previous years, disasters in 2011 hit close to home for many MAP staff. In Cote d’Ivoire, post-election violence created a humanitarian disaster that saw a shipment of MAP medicines to the capital of Abidjan, as well as a water and sanitation program facilitated by staff from MAP Cote d’Ivoire.
The conflict in Libya also resulted in an urgent humanitarian crisis, and MAP shipped $3.1 million worth of medicines and supplies to the heart of the conflict in Benghazi. Lastly, the Horn of Africa drought and resulting famine prompted emergency shipments of medicines to affected MAP programs and surrounding villages.
Transformational Missions
MAP has long offered the MAP Medical Fellowship, a sponsored mission trip for fourth year medical students to experience medicine in the context of a developing country. And recognizing that many people in the US have a desire to give back in the form of similar mission trips, MAP created the transformational missions program to enable individuals and teams to create lasting change for people in need. The program connects those interested in mission work with meaningful opportunities to have an impact within communities where MAP works.
Community Heroes
The second year of our Community Heroes contest was our most successful, with 991,091 votes! The winner was Ina Rawati from Indonesia, who used her award to create better hygiene and sanitation in her community. Susan Nalepo from Kenya used her award to better her local health clinic, as well as to train community health workers. Washington Chacha from Ecuador is using his award to create vegetable gardens in his community so that families can have access to wholesome food, as well as a potential income source.
Country Programs
Of course, no mention of MAP program highlights would be complete without our country programs! While there are too many to mention them all here, (and you really should download the entire report and read it) here is a choice sampling:
- In Bolivia, the Community Health Service Clinic saw 3,218 patients, 39 Health promoters and 92 Health Guardians were trained
- In Cote d’Ivoire, 1,825,300 children from age 5 to 14 were treated for Soil Transmitted Helminthes to prevent anemia and low physical and cognitive growth
- In Ecuador, 95 health promoters were trained to serve the needs of over 6,250 people in surrounding regions
- In Ghana, 169 health care professionals were trained to properly deal with Buruli Ulcer
- In Honduras, 60 health promoters were trained to serve 16 communities
- In Indonesia, the Tello Mobile Clinic provided health care services to 1,457 people, and educated 1,736 more in basic health care
- In Kenya, MAP hosted a two week medical camp for Maternal and Child Health Services and saw a total of 1,763 patients
- In Uganda, addressed food security of 2,000 households by facilitating the production of important crops
Needless to say, 2011 was an exciting year, and here’s to hoping that 2012 is just as exciting! Help us thank our program staff for the wonderful work they do by reading this report, and sharing it with your friends and family. Only with your help can we bring awareness to the serious issues faced by the less fortunate, and only with your help can we hope to solve them.
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