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TDA Returns to Haiti: Heart & Sole
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On the 12th of January 2010 a 7.0 earthquake immobilized the nation of Haiti. It is estimated that three million people were affected by this natural disaster. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, TDA mobilized a team of 40 volunteers to undertake an emergency relief mission to Haiti. This team was comprised of medical personal and lay people to bring aid and relief to the Haitian people. A post trauma medical clinic was established, this clinic has since seen over 50 children treated and discharged to their homes.
The earthquake devastated the most of the education sector, with many schools due to re-open in October 2010 for the first time. During an education summit attended by Rikki and Dr Ayoade Alakija in Washington DC in March 2010, the First Lady of Haiti, Mrs Elisabeth Delatour Préval stated "One of our main priorities to normalize children, beyond the basics of health care and nutrition, is to send them back to school".
Therefore we are responding to the need identified by the government and people of Haiti regarding their children. Many of the school supplies that we take for granted – pens, pencils, and notebooks – are unavailable to the poorest children of the nation. Along with this, the rubble created by the earthquake has not yet been removed, and as a result children's feet are getting damaged, as they are often have no shoes to wear.
TDA will be returning to Haiti in October with a team of 15 people, part of this mission will be to distribute school supplies, shoes and clothing to approximately 1000 children. This mission will also include a medical component, we will be providing health checks and medical attention where required.
TDA has sourced a 1000 new pairs of children's shoes, along with clothing that will be distributed. One of the needs we have is school supplies; we would like to supply the children with not only basic schooling supplies, but with backpacks too. We see education as key to transforming the lives of these children, and we want to provide them with the resources to ensure successful learning.
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Previous Update: 9-10
Second International Conference on Preventing Maternal and Child Deaths:
Towards the MDGs Reducing Child 2015
Mortality and Improving Maternal Health
To see all the photos and full report go to:www.rwandapmnd.com
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Previous Update: 3-10
TDA Helps Launch Global Campaign to Prevent Child Deaths
Transformational Development Agency recently helped launch the Global Child
Health Campaign, a five-year World Vision initiative aimed at reducing the
9.2 million child deaths that happen each year. TDA’s Dr. Ayoade
Olatunbosun-Alakija served as the keynote speaker at last November’s summit
with world leaders in Kenya. “Our children cannot be allowed to die
needlessly and without a fight. It is our collective responsibility to see
that our children live and not die,” said Dr. Olatunbosun-Alakija, the
campaign’s spokesperson for Africa. The campaign’s goal is to reduce the
global child mortality rate by two-thirds in the next five years through a
series of healthcare, education and funding initiatives.
Dr. Ayoade Olatunbosun-Alakija with Kenyan First Lady
Madam Ida Odinga and Mama Sara Obama
Dr.Olatunbosun-Alakija met with Kenyan First Lady Lady Madam Ida Odinga and
Mama Sara Obama, the Kenyan grandmother of US President Barack Obama, to
discuss strategies for making child, newborn and maternal health national
priorities. Africa accounts for more than half the child deaths even though
the continent makes up only about 12 percent of the world’s population.“These children, the poorest and most vulnerable in the world, are powerless
but we must be a voice to this and future generations – not merely an echo,”
said Dr. Olatunbosun-Alakija, who lost two of her own children before the
age of five. Dr. Ayoade Olatunbosun-Alakija with Kenyan First Lady Madam Ida
Odinga and Mama Sara Obama TDA is joining World Vision in urging countries
worldwide to adopt national plans of action, with an emphasis on combating
deaths in the first month of life due to neo-natal complications,
preventable diseases, malnutrition, and injuries. Reports indicate dramatic
results from targeted interventions in countries such as Malawi that focus
attention on areas such as nutrition, greater immunization coverage and
increasing the number of attended births.
In her keynote address, Dr. Olatunbosun-Alakija cited the example of baby
Sarfraz, who was born at a Tanzanian hospital the day before the Global
Health Campaign launch; he died within hours due to lack of available health
infrastructure and trained health personnel. Dr. Olatunbosun-Alakija said with
the support of world leaders, babies like Sarfraz will have a chance to
live. “We see that where there is high level political commitment, there is
a reduction in child mortality – it is not a complex equation,” she said.
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Previous Update: 11-09
The Launch of the Global Child Health Campaign takes place November 17th with Dr. Ayoade Olatunbosun-Alakija as chair in the five year initiative to reduce 9.2 million child deaths that happen each year. She was the keynote speaker for the pre-launch in Nairobi, Kenya this past month with key leaders from around the continent.
Currently, Transformational Development Agency is working on a global media initiative, highlighting the interconnectedness of children through music, dance and art. This international endeavor aims to inspire a rising generation toward a healthy society displaying the creativity, beauty and majesty that is Africa.
TDA took part in the launch of the Measles Campaign in Rwanda, with the First Lady as the guest of honor. Staff attended the regional launch in Bugesera, hosted by the Ministry of Health, towards achieving the successful vaccination of mothers and children under five years. TDA continues to provide technical support for this national initiative to reduce child mortality, improving the overall health of mothers and children. United Nations, USAID, and TDA officials were in company.
TDA Founder was recognized by the First Lady of Rwanda and Ministry of Health in the next step to begin policy reform through the launch of the Maternal Child Report. With Dr. Ayoade Olatunbosun-Alakija as lead author, this systematic report includes recommendations for new, improved and revised policy regarding maternal and neo-natal health specifically.
TDA handed over medical equipment to the Ministry of Health this month and was able to donate the vital equipment to the local hospital to further aid the reduction of child mortality.
TDA received a new team member who will be partnering with both government and non-government organizations in the region. She will assist in healthcare initiatives, training, and assessments in the area of maternal child health and HIV/AIDS health programs within the East Africa sub-region.
Behind the Walls is a new project initiated this past month. The program promotes education, vocational skills training and maternal child care for women and their children in prison. Instruction will focus on HIV/AIDS, basic health and sanitation, parenting, and child development.
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Previous Update: 8-09
Much has happened in the last several weeks and months. In recent developments following the Maternal Child Health Conference, TDA was able to donate a fetal monitor to the Ministry of Health and strategic partnerships have also fallen into place contributing to the success of child health.
TDA welcomed two new team members from New Zealand and will welcome more to Rwanda in the months to come. One new member is currently working with the Ministry of Commerce, assisting in research, development and implementation of improved micro-business practices for women. She is working with the Chamber of Women to achieve success in getting former sex workers started in small enterprises.
A TDA staff member had the privilege of working with ORINFOR, a nationwide television and Radio Broadcasting network. His role included training for the staff at ORINFOR and assisting in the transitions they are taking to become a more advanced network.
More assistance has been provided to the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotions. TDA is training up social workers, orphanage directors and staff to rehabilitate children at risk, including former sex workers, orphaned survivors and children left to become head of their households.
A major undertaking to further this rehabilitation is the Photo Voice project- teaching these youth life skills and empowering them with a voice in society. A creative arts workshop is set to take place in November, training them in photography, video, voice recording and editing of their own personal documentaries.
Great things are on the horizon for TDA. Institutional collaboration is taking place between TDA and World Vision on international as well as regional and national levels. We are excited to partner in future endeavors.
TDA is also looking forward to the Global Child Health Campaign taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, November 2009. TDA founder Dr. Ayoade Alakija, is the strategic advisor and speaker launching a plan to reduce the 10 million child deaths happening each year around the world. There is more on this to come. We look forward to launching vision and strategy for global transformation.
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Previous Update: 7-09
Transformational Development Agency has made great progress in the past few months. The base in Kigali, Rwanda is now established and active.
A TDA representative attended the Maternal Child Health Week Launching Ceremony which was facilitated by the Ministry of Health, the First Lady attended as the guest of honor. Many dignitaries, government officials, and health development workers were a part of this successful event. The Ministry of Health was able to vaccinate 85% of mothers and children under 5 years old within the Ruhungeri District. This was a great achievement, which was celebrated by TDA and other health institutions.
TDA was also a part of the Joint Health Sector Review, which was organized by the Ministry of Health. This was a review and discussion about new health policy and initiatives.
Founder and director of TDA, in May chaired the first ever International Maternal Child Health Conference held in Rwanda. www.rwandapmnd.org. TDA played a leading role in organizing and chairing the conference as well as providing new policy recommendations regarding maternal and child health. The conference was a tremendous success and the recommended policies have been received by the Ministry of Health and will begin the process of implementation within the next 3 months.
The Central Hospital of Kigali had been in desperate need of some neo-natal resuscitators to reduce the infant mortality rate. TDA was able to donate several of these resuscitators this past month and has obtained more maternal health medical equipment, which is in the process of being shipped to Rwanda.
Transformational Development Agency also concentrates much effort in the area of children at risk. A TDA staff member has been in the processes of completing orphanage assessments throughout Rwanda. The assessments are acting as research for further training and policy initiatives. The Minister of Gender and Family Promotions has requested that TDA begin the training of trainers within the Ministry itself in areas relating to children, orphan care, administrative organization and communication, child counseling and other areas pertaining to vulnerable children. The Ministry has further invited TDA to begin parent education within the government school system. The goal is to educate and train those working with children in several sectors and levels of society.
In the process of research and assessments TDA has become involved with a very unique project. There is a village full of orphans that have survived the genocide and have since been living as child led households. Through discussions with the children and community leaders TDA has decided to invest into these young lives. One of the first areas of work will be a photovoice project, where the children will tell their stories, which will then be published into a book. Through the process of obtaining their stories, TDA staff will lead them through trauma counseling, offer vocational training, social education and life skills programs. Our aim is to assist these young ones to become productive self-sufficient citizens.
Another social issue that TDA is addressing is in the area of young sex-workers. There are a tremendous amount of girls that were orphaned during the genocide, and have since turned to a life on the streets. TDA staff is in the process of research and building relationship with these girls to assess comprehensive needs and how to best address those needs. There are several girls TDA has already begun working with in a more direct manner, has donated necessary food and blankets, and we are in the process of assisting in finding them alternative forms of work.
TDA has already begun leadership training and capacity building and has several more seminars scheduled in the weeks to come. TDA staff have also been assisting the director of a local school for orphans in the area of strategic planning, development, and staff training.
Two more staff members will be arriving at the end of July to work in the area of media, particularly with TV and Radio Broadcasting. They are experienced in both media and development work and will be tremendous asset to TDA and the nation of Rwanda. By the end of September TDA expects to have 7 full time staff on the ground in Rwanda.
TDA founder, CEO and leader in Microenterprise has been to Rwanda twice in the past month for critical meetings with key leaders of the nation to initiate our micro-enterprise sector in Rwanda.
TDA founder has been in Rwanda six times in the past six months, where she met with many top government leaders as well as the diplomatic and multilateral partners, chaired the first international Maternal Child Health Conference, and developed new collaboration and partnerships with numerous organizations.
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