Tag: US aid

Hope for Those in Need

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“For the Burundian people, the Global Fund means hope and salvation”

-Felix Ntungumburanye, Burundi

As a citizen of the United States, I sometimes forget how lucky I am to live in a country where I can receive proper medical care, and not spend my days worrying over whether or not I am going to contract a fatal disease such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis or malaria. There are millions of people who wake up everyday and sadly learn that they have lost a friend or family member to preventable diseases.

Fortunately, being that the United States is a world power and leader, we as citizens have the opportunity and ability to help countries that are less fortunate through the financing of programs to fight these devastating diseases. The Global Fund is the largest financer of programs to fight AIDS, TB, and malaria, giving $18.7 billion for programs in 140 countries. The Global Fund has many contributors, the main one being (Red) which has generated $140 million in support of the Global Fund.

Global Fund to date:

  • Reached 62 million people with HIV counseling and testing
  • Provided 3.2 million AIDS orphans with basic care and support
  • Averted more than 4.9 million deaths by providing AIDS treatment for 2.5 million people

Seeing these facts is astonishing, and now I understand why Felix Ntungumburanye says that the Global Fund means “hope and salvation” to him. Without philanthropy groups such as these, certain countries would be in even worse despair. Powerful countries such as the United States having been doing a great job at extending support and providing a sense of hope for those less fortunate.

children-the-global-fund

For more images view Global Fund Slideshow

sources: pictures: Maciej Dakowicz

article: (RED)

Mission Haiti Underway

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Let’s talk about a recent event that has affected the lives of many….

Let’s talk about what happened in Haiti on January 12, 2010…

Woman being carried out of the rubble.
Woman being carried out of the rubble.

I find the earthquake disaster in Haiti a completely relevant and necessary topic to cover right now.

Now, I understand that the media is covering the Haiti Relief Effort like movie theatres cover popcorn with butter (that’s a whole lot) but I want to find different angles to explore this traumatic event and the relief efforts that have followed the disaster…

I want to focus on:

  • Public Opinion: What does the public think of our role in Haiti? Are we giving too little or too much? 
  • Media Framing : How does the media in the US frame our role in Haiti?
  • Human Interest Stories: How are people that are directly connected to Haiti reacting and coping with the tragedy? What have people at Furman and nearby been doing in response to Haiti’s cries for help? 

I want to explore the role the United States is playing both as a government but even more so as a people. What do Americans think of the role the US is playing  in Haiti? What do Haitians think of US relief efforts in Haiti? There is so much that the media has not covered (I know, hard to believe) and I want to explore those angles.