Empowering Youth Globally, Inc.
Health Care Challenges and Initiatives in Africa
On February 22, 2015, Timothy Ibutu was honored to present at a Thinking Day Event for the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland. He was able to share his insights about healthcare in Africa and advancements being made across the continent with approximately 100 girls (10-18 yrs.) and adults. Below is part of his introduction and the resource page that was given out to those in attendance.
Health is the most important aspect of a person’s life. Different countries have different challenges and goal to acquire optimal health for their population. Africa has greater challenges due to lack of human and material resources. According to the world health organization (WHO), United Nations Agency, Africa confronts the most dramatic public health crisis, but states that Africa can get out of it if given sufficient international support. Health is paramount to socioeconomic development, so poor health affects every area of life, the economy, education, security, and politics.
Some of the greatest health challenges that Africa faces in this century include, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Polio in children, Measles, infant and maternal mortality, and most recently the Ebola epidemic.
Today, we are going to discuss a little about Africa, the health challenges faced by this continent, the advances being made, and some ways that you can help.
MISSION IN ACTION
Planting Trees
Planting trees has been my hobby since I was young, and whenever I visit East Africa I plant a bunch of trees. This has motivated me to educate, and encourage Youth,Girl-Scouts, Boy-Scouts, and the Young Adults to plant trees and Improve our planet, that way we are assured of clean air, and a beautiful planet. On Saturday 1/31/2015 Brenda and I attended Dr. Heidi Schreiber-Pan Associate Professor at Loyola University Maryland Celebration of completion of her PhD in Pastoral Counseling at the Oregon Ridge Nature Center. Dr. Heidi talked of how it is important to live in harmony with our ecosystem. I do support Eco-Spirituality, and an admirer of "St. Ignatius of Loyola concept of finding God in all things" and that way we become
Co-Creators with Him and custodians of our planet.
Important Reference
www.pathwaysrtc.pdx.edu
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/for-wellness-education-and-leadership-training/x/9283197
Refugees in Rwanda/Burundi
Timothy also spent several years working with refugees. He worked in Tanzania with refugees from the Rwanda/Burundi Genocide and in Northern Uganda with the South Sudanese refugees run by Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) under the umbrella of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He also worked with urban refugees in Uganda and Kenya.The pictures below are from a refugee camp in Northern Uganda and a refugee entering Tanzania.
School Programs in Tanzania
Many of the schools and projects that Timothy has worked on in the past are not only still active but are growing and expanding. Below are some pictures from some of the school event which he helped organize in Tanzania.