World Vision Canada's President Dave Toycen is at the G8 summit in Italy this week, bringing the voices of the people who couldn't make it this year.
Investing in the health of children can do wonders. Thanks to improvements to basic health services, the number of young children dying each year from preventable illness dropped nearly 2 million between 2000 and 2007.
That progress is now threatened. The global economic downturn may prompt G8 leaders to withdraw or limit aid commitments to mothers and children. Such a move could jeopardize the lives of millions of people, already struggling to survive the food crisis. Now is not the time to cut back on aid.
Here are three examples of people whose lives are closely connected with decisions around aid.
Jacqueline
Although Jacqueline is HIV positive, antiretroviral medication — provided free by the Rwandan government — means that her three children have a mother to raise them. G8 governments have already committed to helping keep mothers and children in developing countries healthy, including those with HIV and AIDS. World Vision wants to see these promises kept.
Brishti
Malnutrition can be deadly for children like Brishti, one of 10 million Bangladeshi children under five who was underweight last year. Thanks to a World Vision nutrition program and basic healthcare, Brishti is doing better. G8 governments have pledged to put money toward strengthening health systems. They’ve also talked about the importance of addressing the needs of children and women. World Vision wants them to follow through, increasing funding for primary health care programs that put mothers and children first.
Dilsia
With global food prices soaring, Dilsia’s daily rice ration is now a weekly one. Her mother is widowed and — like 40 per cent of farmers in East Timor — earns about 50 cents a day. As G8 leaders work to mitigate and address the impact of the global economic downturn, World Vision wants them to keep children like Dilsia on the agenda.
Arrange an interview
http://www.g8action.org/
Media Briefing for the G8
World Vision G8 op-ed in Toronto Star
YouTube video of G8 leaders' "Italian Job"
YouTube video of stunt in action
