You Can Make A Difference, But Together We Can Make A Change
NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
-
A Time for Thanks
-
Announcements and Activities: Forum on ATNI, Archives, Volunteer Program
-
Rokpa International
-
Project Spotlight: Reflections on Woza Moya
-
Health, Economics and Inequality: Health and Healthy Economies by Jarett Zuboy and A Closer Look at HIV/AIDS in Developing Countries by Lindsay Mitchell
A Time for Thanks...
All Together Now International wants to express its sincere and immense gratitude to the many of you who have supported us along the way. Without your kind thoughts and actions, readership and attention, and donations of time and money, ATNI would not be what it is today! From the many volunteers who shape and mold this organization to those who welcome its efforts, it is a pleasure making a difference together. In whatever way you choose to help those in need and in whatever way you appreciate the people helping you along the way, we thank you!
Please continue your support for All Together Now International by sending your donations to: ATNI, P O Box 7111, Boulder, CO 80306.
ROKPA International
On a recent mule trip up to a holy mountain in Nepal, Lea and her team came across a five-year old orphan girl whose father was washed away in a terrible flood, and whose mother had just passed away. The little girl, named Pema, is now traveling with the ROKPA crew (pictured left) to the orphanage, where she will receive love and care. They hope to find a home for her soon.
Announcements and Activities
ATNI IN THE NEWS...Read
Jarett's highly-acclaimed account of ATNI at Denver's YourHub Community:
http://denver.yourhub.com/BOULDER/Stories/Community/community-giving-nominations/Story~134648.aspx.
While ATNI unfortunately did not win the prize, Jarett received
compliments from the editor regarding his well written submission!
In September, the Daily Camera put the spotlight on ATNI: http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/lifestyles/article/0,1713,BDC_2520_4978941,00.html.
ATNI WELCOMES...Sarah and Jeffrey as the event-planning team! Be sure to check the December newsletter for updates on our fundraiser!
ARCHIVES...Interested in reading about ATNI's progress through the years? Browse the new archives section of our website to view past newsletters: http://www.alltogether.org/2006/archives.shtml.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON ATNI'S FORUM...New this month, ATNI added a discussion forum to the website. Open to all threads of conversation, please share your thoughts, ideas, suggestions and interesting news at http://www.alltogether.org/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl.
VOLUNTEERING AT ATNI...Thanks to all who have shown interest in volunteering with ATNI! Visit http://www.alltogether.org/2006/YouCanHelp2.shtml for a list of volunteer opportunities and to contact us with other volunteer ideas or suggestions!
BLOGGING WITH ATNI...Follow ATNI's blogs at http://www.alltogether.org/allblogs.shtml! Read the various personal tales as Dorje, Jennifer, Sue, Gwendoline and Jarett contribute to ATNI's success!
Reflections on Woza Moya
Excerpts from a letter
written by a recent Woza Moya visitor, Trish Bartley:
"Woza
Moya – ‘come the spirit’ – works in a stunning but struggling
valley community in KwaZuluNatal, South Africa. The community
organization started life in a very small, but organic way, five years
ago, when young people in the valleys were dying and child headed
households were evident.
"A
Zulu speaking white woman, Sue Hedden, started working with a local
African woman, Jane Nxasana, by visiting families in nearby villages,
and responding to the needs that they found. HIV/Aids was claiming the
lives of the young and middle aged, poverty and hunger was widespread
and many households were caring for sick and dying people. The situation
now is worsening year on year. Funerals take place every Saturday.
Recently released figures in KwaZuluNatal report that in 2003, 47% of
pregnant women presenting at clinics were infected with the HIV virus.
"The
valley used to be a successful farming area. Drought, political warfare
and the devastation of HIV/Aids has left the people economically
severely challenged. This is exacerbated by the mounting death rate, the
exorbitant cost of funerals, and increased demands for water, firewood
and food for those who are ill. Every family is affected. New graves
stand forlorn near rondavel homes. Grandmothers head up large households
of grandchildren and great
grandchildren. In some families a whole generation is missing. The men
mostly leave for the city in search of work. Of those who are left, many
abuse the young vulnerable children in their care, misguidedly believing
the cruel myth that having sex with a virgin will cure Aids. The role
and dignity of the rural African man has been dismally eroded by
apartheid, unemployment, and HIV/Aids.
"It
is a desperate situation and yet the work of Woza Moya, through their
responsive and participatory community process, offers hope, support and
a chance of greater self reliance to local valley people...The most
profound support often comes from the one to one work around a rondavel
fire. Here Woza Moya carers offer support through listening,
befriending, making a plan with the family member and then taking
appropriate action to follow through. As one of the carers recently
explained ‘We do what we promise we are going to do – and that means
a lot’.
"Increasingly
Woza Moya is prioritizing the children, seen as the most vulnerable
members of the community. A trained staff member works one to one with
abused children, finding them safe shelter when necessary and supporting
the family to take legal action. A school uniform sponsorship programme
enables them to attend school. A play therapy/educare centre is planned
in the near future.
"More is always needed – but as Woza Moya grows and develops as an organization, it continues to prioritize the capacity building of its team and the people they work with. Increasingly relying on local management, the focus on responsive participatory community process stays strong. Working with incredibly complex issues including death, rape, hunger, and poverty, they offer support to every aspect of human experience and in ways that embody empowerment and dignity. May Woza Moya continue to balance sensitivity and urgency in their practice in the community in ways that promote heart and life."
To
read the Trish's entire commentary, please go to http://www.alltogether.org/cgi-bin/coranto/viewnews.cgi?id=EEyElkpyupRirrPuvG&style=fulltext&tmpl=viewnews.
Donate, Volunteer or Support...All Together Now welcomes your tax-deductible contributions, your time and skills, and your support! For information regarding donations, volunteer opportunities, ways in which you can support ATNI's upcoming events, or to be added to our mailing list, please visit us online at www.alltogether.org, e-mail us at info@alltogether.org or call us at 720 565 8777.
Health and Healthy
Economies
by Jarett Zuboy
All Together Now International
A child in the developing world is dying. There’s no doubt that modern medicine can save her. And there’s no doubt that organizations like All Together Now International can help make the necessary care possible. To see that child live a healthy and productive life is reward enough for care provided, but the benefits of improved health extend far beyond individuals. When its people are healthy, a country’s economy prospers. Poverty dwindles, and further improvements in health are achieved—a virtuous cycle leading to higher quality of life for all.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development notes several ways good health affects economies. Productivity is higher among healthy workers, increasing profitability and reducing workforce turnover. A healthy and productive workforce and community lead to increased domestic and foreign investment. Because healthy children have better cognitive potential and lower school absenteeism, the workforce becomes more educated.
The longer lives of healthy people—and the higher probability of living until retirement—increase the amount of money people save, and these funds can be used for capital investment. Improved health and education contribute to lower birth and death rates, with birth rates ultimately falling more quickly than death rates; this slows population growth, improves the ratio of active workers to dependents, and increases per capita income. Also, smaller families are able to invest more in each of their children, who become part of the healthier and more educated workforce of the future.
The dividends of good health can be quantified. The World Health Organization (WHO) found evidence that, other factors being equal, each 10% improvement in life expectancy is associated with an increase in economic growth of about 0.3%–0.4% per year. Economist David Bloom and colleagues found that one extra year of life expectancy raises steady-state per capita gross domestic product by about 4%. Bloom’s group credits improved health for about one third of the East Asian “economic miracle,” a period of rapid economic growth in East Asian countries starting in the second half of the 20th century.
The consequences of bad health on economies are just as striking. They are particularly devastating for the poor, who depend on their own labor power more than other parts of the population. Lost health means lost income. Healthcare expenses add to an already heavy burden that can drag entire families into destitution. All the positive effects of good health described above are reversed. In addition, Mexican Minister of Health Julio Frenk notes that lower life expectancy discourages adult workforce training and that an unhealthy community—such as one plagued by deadly communicable diseases—hurts important economic sectors such as tourism.
Sub-Saharan
The benefits of good health for the economies of developing countries are clear, but achieving these benefits will require significant investments. The WHO estimates that the equivalent of $30–$40 per person is a minimum level of financing needed to cover essential interventions. Actual spending in developing countries was only $13–$24 per person in 2001. The WHO recommends that these countries increase their spending on healthcare and that donor countries increase their health assistance as well, from the $6 billion level of 2001 to $38 billion by 2015. This investment in healthcare would be expected to save eight million lives a year and generate $360 billion in economic benefits—a six-fold return on the combined investment of recipient and donor countries.
Improved health puts developing countries on an upward spiral of growing economies, shrinking poverty, and even better health. As citizens of a nation with the good fortune of health and wealth, we have the power to help others achieve this prosperity. Each time we contribute to improving world health—as a nation or as individuals, with billions of dollars or hundreds—we not only alleviate the suffering caused by disease and disability, but we also build the capacity of striving nations to help themselves.
Bloom, D.E.; Canning, D. “The Health and Wealth of Nations.” Science, February 2000, Vol. 287, Issue 5456, pg. 1207–1208.
Bloom, D.E.; Canning, D.; Jamison, D.T. “Health, Wealth, and Welfare.” Finance Development, March 2004, pg. 10–15.
Frenk, J. “Health and the Economy: a Vital Relationship.” OECD Observer, May 2004, Issue 243, pg. 9–10.
OECD. “Investing in Health to Reduce Poverty.” DAC Journal, 2003, Vol. 4 Issue 1, pg. 165–177.
WHO.
Macroeconomics and Health:
Investing in Health for Economic Development.
A Closer Look at HIV/AIDS in Developing Countries
by Lindsay Mitchell
All
Together Now International
HIV/AIDS is one of the most significant global issues we face today. Ninety percent of HIV/AIDS cases occur in developing countries, and sub-Saharan Africa is by far the region that has been most affected and devastated by the disease. Studies of the HIV/AIDS crisis have revealed staggering correlations between contracting the disease and issues of social inequality.
Economic inequality is a major factor contributing the contraction and spread of the HIV/AIDS virus. Countries that suffer the most from the virus are those which are economically disadvantaged. Furthermore, within these countries, those who are most susceptible to HIV/AIDS are the poorest of the poor. One reason for this is that the poor lack access to both quality education on prevention and quality treatment and support once the virus has been detected, leading to rapid spread of the disease within these poor communities. In addition, poverty is a major underlying cause of lifestyle beliefs and practices that lead to increased risk for HIV/AIDS.
In developing nations,
especially in rural areas where jobs are often scarce, many men and
women are forced to migrate to bigger cities for work. This increases
the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS when men seek sex from multiple
partners in other cities.
Gender inequality is also a major factor contributing to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In Africa, women predominate among the poor, and poverty is a major force causing women in developing countries to engage in sex work. Sometimes the women have no other means of survival, and thus “choose” a life of prostitution. Oftentimes, however, women and young girls are abducted, forced, or tricked into becoming prostitutes. They then become stuck in this occupation by means of a “debt” imposed by men in control or simply by means of violence. Moreover, women in many African societies are expected to remain faithful to their spouses, while the men are not, leaving the women much more susceptible to HIV/AIDS. In addition, most of these African cultures believe that a woman who does not bear children is shameful. Thus, even women who know they are infected may decide to have children, in the hopes that the child might not become infected. Of course this is quite often not the case.
Other factors rooted in
African culture that contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS include the
belief that condoms can harm female genitalia and even cause sterility,
that regular sexual intercourse is essential to the health of both males
and females, or the horrifying belief that sex with a virgin can cure
AIDS.
So what can we do?
Increased quality
education on prevention and support groups for those who have tested
positive for HIV/AIDS are extremely important, as well as providing safe
housing for women. Medicines and treatment programs must be made more
affordable and should not discriminate on the basis of financial status,
race, or gender. The complex issues
mentioned above need to be addressed both individually and
comprehensively, so that a realistic and effective approach to tackling
the HIV/AIDS epidemic can be formulated. It is only through drastic
change in the way that HIV/AIDS is viewed, interpreted, and addressed
within different societies that we can ever hope to calm the horrific
epidemic that is unnecessarily costing so many human lives.
Albertyn, Catherine (2003) Contesting Democracy: HIV/AIDS and the Achievement of Gender Equality in South Africa. Feminist-Studies 29 (3): 595-615.
Bancroft, Angus (2001) Globalization and HIV/AIDS: inequality and the boundaries of a symbolic epidemic. Health, Risk, and Society 3 (1): 89-97.
Dunkle, Kristin L.; Rachel K. Jewkes; Heather C. Brown; Glenda E. Gray; James A. McIntryre; and Sioban D. Harlow (2004) Transactional Sex Among Women in Soweto, South Africa: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Association with HIV Infection. Social Science and Medicine 59 (8): 1581-1592.
Farmer, Paul (1999) Chapter 3: Invisible Women. Infections and Inequalities. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angelas.
Jewkes, Rachel K.; Jonathon B. Levin; and Loveday A. Penn-Kekana (2003) Gender Inequalities, Intimate Partner Violence and HIV Preventative Practices: Findings of a South African Cross- Sectional Study. Social Science and Medicine 56 (1):125-134.
Schoepf, Brooke G. (2001) International AIDS Research in Anthropology: Taking a Critical Perspective on the Crisis. Annual Review of Anthropology 30: 335-61.
Schoepf, Brooke
Grundfest.(1988)
Women, AIDS, and Economic Crisis in Central Africa. Canadian
Journal of
Smith, Mohga-Kamal (2002) Gender, Poverty, and Intergenerational Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. Gender and Development 10 (3):63-70.
Zierler, Sally and Nancy Krieger (2000) The Emergence of AIDS: the impact on immunology, microbiology, and public health, edited by K.H. Mayer and H.F.Pizer, pp.77-97. American Public Health Association.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jennifer Cleary · President | Cynthia T. Kennedy, Esq. · Treasurer | Steven Harrison · Author | John Odom, MD · Orthopedic Surgeon | Wendell Wallach · Business Consultant | Joe Braidish · Business Management Consultant
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Margaret Cleary · Rehabilitation Nurse | Scott Dimetrosky · Executive Director International Mountain Explorers Connection | Dorje Dolma · Surgery Recipient | Tsering Dolma · Surgery Recipient | Rick Doty · Certified Public Accountant | Michael Friedenberg · Real Estate Broker | Eric Jamrich, MD · Orthopedic Surgeon | Jill Kamon, MD · Pediatrician | Jon Krakauer · Author |
David Spiegel, MD · Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon
CONTACT INFORMATION
www.alltogether.org | +1 (720) 565 8777 | info@alltogether.org | PO Box 7111 · Boulder, CO 80306 · USA
TO UNSUBSCRIBE
If you would like to unsubscribe from our e-newsletters, please contact Gwendoline at gvandoosselaere@alltogether.org.
November 2006