Fieldnotes: Blogging on UNICEF's child survival work in the field

Thank you, Lucy Lui, for all that you are doing to generate awareness about the dire situations occurring in the Congo and in other parts of that beautiful continent of AFRICA. God Bless, Godspeed and Kyrie Elieson down this road that you haven chosen to travel. This world will be a better place because of you and other high profile celebrities (Bono, Angelina, Brad, Mia Farrow, Clay Aiken, India.Arie, Lawrence Fishburne...etc.) who have chosen to use their celebrity for the good of their fellow man, and to the benefit of some of the world's most vulnerable citizens.

sincerely,

Deborah Schlee
Providence, RI

I hope that people will give whatever they can to UNICEF to help the people of AFRICA. Even collecting loose change helps. Give up a Starbucks coffee for a day....or a week.

If you want to know more about what is going on in AFRICA....buy this month's edition of Vanity Fair. Bono is the guest editor and has done a wonderful job trying to educate people about what is going on in AFRICA.

Until September, you can download Arie.India's song "Beautiful Flower".....with all proceeds going to help educate some of the future leaders fo AFRICA. If you want to see the lyrics to this song....go to www.lyrics.com.

Whatver people do...I hope that Lucy Lui and others have caused them to chose to give as generously as your budget allows and to use their own voices to make a difference in Africa and around the world. UNICEF is THE BEST. Go to charitynavigator.com to check out UNICEF. UNICEF has an amazingly great record for getting at least 91% of donations to the people and areas where the money is needed. They do everything possible to keep their overhead costs low.

As we prepare to enter the 21st century, the promise of affordable vaccines has never been greater. If this promise is to be fully realized, vaccines must not only be effective in the prevention of diseases, but cheaper for developing countries.

In 1996, Africa experienced the largest recorded outbreak of epidemic meningitis in history, with over 250,000 cases and 25,000 deaths registered. Between that crisis and 2002, 223,000 new cases of meningococcal meningitis were reported to the World Health Organization. The countries most affected have been Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia and Niger; in 2002, the outbreaks occurring in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Niger accounted for about 65% of the total cases reported in the African continent.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that while bacterial meningitis is not as contagious as the common cold (which is spread through casual contact), it can be transmitted through saliva and occasionally close, prolonged contact with an infected person. Further complicating efforts to halt the spread of meningitis in Africa is the fact that extremely dry, dusty weather conditions — which characterize Niger and Burkina Faso from December to June — favor the development of epidemics. Overcrowded villages — breeding grounds for bacterial transmission — and high prevalence of respiratory tract infections, which leave the body more susceptible to infection, also encourage the spread of meningitis.

Most frequently hit are 18 countries in sub-Saharan Africa's so-called "meningitis belt." This is an area where the disease is endemic: meningitis is "silently" present, and there are always a few cases. When the number of cases passes five per population of 100,000 in one week, teams are on alert. Epidemic levels are reached when there have been 100 cases per 100,000 populations over several weeks.

Keep up the good work... How can I become a part of UNICEF activities in India?

To learn more about UNICEF India, visit: http://www.unicef.org/india

Dear Lucy, I thank you very much for better job in with difficult situation and I hope that communities in Africa understand how good job you does.
I wish you all the best and I hope that people will contribute what they have.
From
S.Madega
POFIDESO

Headache is a symptom of meningitis, a swelling of the tissue surrounding the brain and spinal column. Usually caused by a virus, this condition can cause death. Fast intervention for bacterial meningitis through the use of intravenous antibiotics is called for. Viral meningitis is usually treated with bed rest, fluids and pain medication, with most patients recovering and showing little of no after effects in about two weeks.
http://www.meningitisnews.com