Three Global Health Successes That I Witnessed Firsthand

Monday, September 16, 2013

Somewhere bumping along the back roads in Mali, Nick Kristof challenged me to reflect on lessons learned from my 25 years working in Africa first as a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1980s and most recently on public health and nutrition programs for Helen Keller International.

Arriving back in the U.S., one of my frustrations is a recurring perception that foreign aid is a waste of money and that Africa is all about famine and failed states. I have had the privilege of seeing first-hand how much good develop assistance can do and the level of commitment and leadership that can be found on the ground. In the last 16 years as Helen Keller International’s Africa director, I have seen some amazingly effective public health campaigns, which have changed the lives of millions of people. Here are 3 of the most important success stories I’ve witnessed.

Source: By Shawn Baker (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Health Care
Tags
public health, public-private partnerships