Each day, a quiet disaster takes place around the world. It may not make headlines, but it takes the life of 450 children every day – more than 164,000 a year. And it’s completely preventable. This disaster is measles – and Lions have vowed to fight against it. We need your help today if we are to win that fight!
Measles is: One of the top five causes of vaccine preventable deaths in the world;
Easy to prevent – the vaccine costs less than US$1 and gives life-long immunity;
Found in every part of the world – measles outbreaks have taken place on every continent and in all climates; and One of the most contagious diseases – 90% of those exposed to the measles virus will catch it if they do not have immunity.
Every year, a disaster quietly strikes thousands of families. While it may not be mentioned on the news or in your local paper, this disaster takes the lives of 450 children, daily. Measles is one of the world's most contagious diseases, but is easily prevented by a simple and inexpensive vaccine. Deaths associated with measles are a disaster that should never happen. Even so, the World Health Organization estimates that unless vaccination efforts are intensified, the number of children who suffer the blindness, hearing loss, brain damage and death caused by measles could increase considerably by 2013.
The Measles Initiative was founded in 2001 upon the belief that even one death from measles is too many. Since its inception, the Initiative has vaccinated one billion children. This incredible achievement has resulted in a 24% worldwide reduction in child mortality. Every time a child is vaccinated, the Measles Initiative comes closer to achieving its goal of eradicating measles by 2020. For less than US$1, a child can be immunized against measles for life, making the vaccine one of the most
cost-effective health interventions available.
Lions have always been advocates of vulnerable populations – especially children.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recognizes the important role that Lions can play in helping every child to have the chance to live a healthy life. In 2010, the Gates Foundation provided LCIF with a grant that enabled Lions to support the work of the Measles Initiative through social mobilization and advocacy. The results of this collaboration were astounding. In one short year, Lions and LCIF supported the immunizations of nearly 41 million children! Although great success has been achieved, our work has only just begun.
Lions are well-known for accepting difficult challenges. In October, 2011, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation called upon Lions to rise to a new challenge, when it awarded LCIF the single largest gift in its history: US$5 million! The Gates Foundation will use this historic gift to match US$1 for every US$2 that Lions raise to help end measles. Together, LCIF and the Gates Foundation hope to raise a total of US$15 million by June 30, 2012. One dollar will provide one vaccine to one child - and will give that child the chance to live a healthy life!
Whenever a Lions club gets together, problems get smaller. And communities get better. That's because we help where help is needed – in our own communities and around the world – with unmatched integrity and energy.
Our 45,000 clubs and more than 1.3 million members make us the world's largest service club organization.
We're also one of the most effective. We get the job done.
We recently:
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Fed 60,000 people in a township in South Africa. It's something Lions do there every day.
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Sent a team of eye surgeons to Honduras to treat more than 100 adults and children.
Everywhere we work, we make friends. With children who need schoolbooks, with seniors who need transportation and with people we may never meet.
We're led by talented, dedicated volunteer leaders from around the world. And, we're supported by the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), which helps to fund Lions humanitarian projects.
The International Headquarters for both Lions Clubs International and the LCIF is in Oak Brook, Illinois, USA.
You can also visit NJ Lions website at http://www.njlions.org
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Lions are an international network of 1.3 million men and women in 205 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world.
