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PHOTO: Lucas Koach, Food for the Hungry
By Anita Moreland Smith, President, Children’s AIDS Fund International
Congress was triply blessed this past week by the Third Annual Congressional Breakfast to Celebrate Child Survival. The event spotlighted remarkable global work that is saving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable -- children under age five.
First, we’re blessed by unprecedented gains in ending preventable young deaths due to illness, disease, malnutrition and inadequate resources like water and health care. In the past fifteen years, child mortality has fallen over fifty percent! Success is being achieved in the face of global conflicts and challenging economic crises, and takes into account an increased number of children born, particularly in the developing world. With better focus on targeted program outcomes, intervention efficiencies, and vigilant attention on designing programs to meet unique local needs, the world is finally on a proven trajectory to virtually eliminate preventable child deaths in the coming decades.
Second, we’re blessed that this effort is bipartisan. Without U.S. government funding, influence and leadership, this work would not see nearly this degree of success. The Prayer Breakfast, itself was co-hosted by Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Representative Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), and Representative Adam Smith (D-WA). Bi-partisan indeed!
Third, every speaker -- from policymakers to U.S. government agency administrators -- championed the faith community’s role as vital program implementers, especially at the local level. Let’s face it, in these days of heightened political and ideological rancor, it’s not just unusual for leaders to speak freely about working “across the aisle” on Capitol Hill, but to champion partnerships with the faith community, too. But they’re correct in citing the value of the faith role, from faith-based organizations to local faith leaders. Our organizations are among the most trusted sources of information and implementation; and informed and engaged pastors, imams, and other faith leaders form a vital community infrastructure through which results, such as we’ve seen in child survival, can be achieved.
Very important public-private partnerships between non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, foundations, and most important, the U.S. government, are making the dream of preventing child deaths a reality. As we celebrated the triple blessing of child survival gains, bi-partisan champions and partnership with faith communities, I was inspired by what I heard:
“Faith communities lead the good being done on the ground, build peace and save lives.” Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Peace Corps Director.
“Before there was a USAID, PEPFAR, or other US government programs, the faith community has been doing this great work.” Ariel Pablos-Menendez, USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health.
“We are at a time of the greatest human suffering since World War II. . . but God does not give us challenges without the means to meet them. . .” Senator Chris Coons (D-DE).
“You don’t meet the challenges of the 21st century without faith.” Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA).
Going forward, when we read stories of high child mortality rates in countries like Venezuela, the impact of the Zika virus on children in South America, and wrestle with the daunting challenges of refugee children in many parts of the world, we must remember what has been accomplished as the vision of what can be done in the future, as long as vital U.S. government role and resources are enhanced and not diminished. Consider that so far, this milestone – the reduction of early child deaths by half -- has been achieved with less than one percent of the federal budget allocated to all global health, humanitarian aid and development work around the world. Surely these results are a blessing!
Which led me to see a fourth blessing for the future, so beautifully expressed by Ariel Pablos-Menendez: “Our generation,” he told the gathering, “can give the gift to the next generation of ending preventable child deaths.”
So, while we bask in the glory of this triple blessing, we must commit to use all of our God-given strength, will and resources to make this fourth blessing a reality for all God’s children.
About the author:
Anita Moreland Smith is President, Children’s AIDS Fund International
Working for 30 years to limit the suffering of HIV-impacted children and families through treatment, care, education, prevention, financial assistance, nutrition, psycho-social support, oral hygiene, microenterprise and other services; and consultant to Faith for International Assistance (FIA), which seeks to strengthen U.S. public support and funding for global health and development assistance through the voice and lens of faith.
Congress was triply blessed this past week by the Third Annual Congressional Breakfast to Celebrate Child Survival. The event spotlighted remarkable global work that is saving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable -- children under age five.
First, we’re blessed by unprecedented gains in ending preventable young deaths due to illness, disease, malnutrition and inadequate resources like water and health care. In the past fifteen years, child mortality has fallen over fifty percent! Success is being achieved in the face of global conflicts and challenging economic crises, and takes into account an increased number of children born, particularly in the developing world. With better focus on targeted program outcomes, intervention efficiencies, and vigilant attention on designing programs to meet unique local needs, the world is finally on a proven trajectory to virtually eliminate preventable child deaths in the coming decades.
Second, we’re blessed that this effort is bipartisan. Without U.S. government funding, influence and leadership, this work would not see nearly this degree of success. The Prayer Breakfast, itself was co-hosted by Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Representative Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), and Representative Adam Smith (D-WA). Bi-partisan indeed!
Third, every speaker -- from policymakers to U.S. government agency administrators -- championed the faith community’s role as vital program implementers, especially at the local level. Let’s face it, in these days of heightened political and ideological rancor, it’s not just unusual for leaders to speak freely about working “across the aisle” on Capitol Hill, but to champion partnerships with the faith community, too. But they’re correct in citing the value of the faith role, from faith-based organizations to local faith leaders. Our organizations are among the most trusted sources of information and implementation; and informed and engaged pastors, imams, and other faith leaders form a vital community infrastructure through which results, such as we’ve seen in child survival, can be achieved.
Very important public-private partnerships between non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, foundations, and most important, the U.S. government, are making the dream of preventing child deaths a reality. As we celebrated the triple blessing of child survival gains, bi-partisan champions and partnership with faith communities, I was inspired by what I heard:
“Faith communities lead the good being done on the ground, build peace and save lives.” Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Peace Corps Director.
“Before there was a USAID, PEPFAR, or other US government programs, the faith community has been doing this great work.” Ariel Pablos-Menendez, USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health.
“We are at a time of the greatest human suffering since World War II. . . but God does not give us challenges without the means to meet them. . .” Senator Chris Coons (D-DE).
“You don’t meet the challenges of the 21st century without faith.” Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA).
Going forward, when we read stories of high child mortality rates in countries like Venezuela, the impact of the Zika virus on children in South America, and wrestle with the daunting challenges of refugee children in many parts of the world, we must remember what has been accomplished as the vision of what can be done in the future, as long as vital U.S. government role and resources are enhanced and not diminished. Consider that so far, this milestone – the reduction of early child deaths by half -- has been achieved with less than one percent of the federal budget allocated to all global health, humanitarian aid and development work around the world. Surely these results are a blessing!
Which led me to see a fourth blessing for the future, so beautifully expressed by Ariel Pablos-Menendez: “Our generation,” he told the gathering, “can give the gift to the next generation of ending preventable child deaths.”
So, while we bask in the glory of this triple blessing, we must commit to use all of our God-given strength, will and resources to make this fourth blessing a reality for all God’s children.
About the author:
Anita Moreland Smith is President, Children’s AIDS Fund International
Working for 30 years to limit the suffering of HIV-impacted children and families through treatment, care, education, prevention, financial assistance, nutrition, psycho-social support, oral hygiene, microenterprise and other services; and consultant to Faith for International Assistance (FIA), which seeks to strengthen U.S. public support and funding for global health and development assistance through the voice and lens of faith.