Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Helmsley Charitable Trust Awards $7 Million to Fight Tropical Diseases in Angola (this always makes me wonder how much will end up buying weapons??)

I think foundation money and grants are often diverted to the Military-Industrial-Banking Complex, especially in "New Resource" areas like Africa...

The END Fund has announced a three-year, $7 million grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust in support of efforts to reduce the burden of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Angola.
The grant, which will help leverage millions of dollars worth of medicines donated by pharmaceutical companies, will be used to scale integrated, community-based mass drug administration for more than two million children and adults at risk of parasitic and bacterial infections such as schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis in three of the most rural and impoverished provinces in the country. The program also will include a water, sanitation, and hygiene education (WASH) program to be implemented at more than two thousand schools.
The grant marks the Helmsley Trust's first engagement in the global movement to control and eliminate NTDs, which lead to malnutrition, anemia, and stunted growth in children, and debilitating illness, disfigurements, and even death for adults.
"We are honored to have the Helmsley Trust join us to improve millions of people's lives in Angola," said END Fund CEO Ellen Agler. "The trust's support comes at a critical moment in the fight to control NTDs as we move towards integrated treatment across the country and beyond."
"NTD treatments have been shown to be one of the most cost-effective ways to keep children in school and help adults live healthier, more productive lives," said Walter Panzirer, a trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. "We hope that the trust's investment brings attention to this important issue and encourages other donors to join the global movement to control and eliminate NTDs."

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