West African Health Foundation (WAHF) Seventh Annual Fundraising Event in NJ

The West African Health Foundation (WAHF) Seventh Annual Fundraising Event will be held on Saturday May 7, 2011 at the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Theologian, 353 East Clinton Avenue, Tenafly, New Jersey 07670. The event will commence at 4:00pm and end at 10:00pm.

The benefit dinner and concert is in aid of the Foundation's continuing effort to decrease the burden of Malaria and other infectious diseases in the at risk population groups of pregnant women and children under the age of five years.

The high-light of this year's event will be the live musical performance by the Hi-Life maestro Ofori Amponsah of Ghana. WAHF is a non profit, non governmental, tax exempt 501c3 organization formed by a group of physicians concerned with the poor health and nutritional status of the people, particularly children and women, of the West African sub-region. The major causes of mortality and morbidity in the sub-region can be prevented or reduced substantially through effective health and nutritional education at a fraction of the cost currently expended by the governments and individuals in managing these diseases.

The Foundation aspires to play a pivotal role in the arduous task of health care provision in the sub-region by educating and empowering the population to recognize and manage the commonest ailments and afflictions. Disease prevention through life style changes and good nutritional habits shall be fostered.

The communities shall be motivated and empowered to take their health care needs in their own hands as much as possible. And when all else fails, to have at their disposal, health care facilities that shall provide compassionate, affordable, effective basic and advanced care. It is estimated that an African child dies of Malaria every 30 seconds. It is even more shocking when you realize that Malaria and other infectious diseases like, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and Cholera can be prevented, controlled and treated. Certainly, lack of awareness and limited resources make it difficult for people to protect themselves and their families from these dreadful diseases.

The Foundation launched a pilot comprehensive Malaria and Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Program at Juaben, Ghana, West Africa in the summer of 2005. In the subsequent years, the program has been expanded to include ten other villages.

WAHF has worked with these communities to raise awareness on how to prevent Malaria and other infectious disease through its didactic health educational seminars ; provided the communities with life saving information on how to recognize the early symptoms and signs; and access effective treatment of these diseases when they are contracted.

A total of seven thousand (7,000) Insecticide Treated Bed-Nets has been provided freely to these communities. Indoor residual spraying of dwellings and targeted environmental spraying of insecticide have also been initiated in some of these communities.

The Foundation has been able to provide tools and implements to the various communities to de-silt clogged gutters, drain stagnant pools of water and fill pot holes in an attempt to control the breeding areas of the vector-mosquito, whose bite can transmit the organism (protozoa) that causes Malaria.

WAHF has laid down an ambitious and comprehensive public health educational program. It aspires to cover these public health interventions in order to realize its mission of promoting health through wellness education and disease prevention.

These include:
Infectious Diseases-Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and Cholera

Maternal and Child Health
Sexually Transmitted diseases
Sanitation/Environmental Health and Personal Hygiene

Immunization/Vaccination
Potable water
Nutrition/Social Behavior
Tobacco, Alcohol/Substance Abuse
Injury Prevention/Vehicular Accidents

The Foundation's mission can only be realized and expanded by the financial commitment and contribution of a friend like you. If you are unable to attend the function, you can still support us with a tax-deductible contribution. Please make checks payable to WAHF or go to the Foundation's secure website www.wahealthfoundation.org to make your charitable donation.

Please contact Dr Bernard Osei-Tutu at 718-826-1355 if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you on May 7, 2011 at WAHF Benefit Dinner and Concert.

Source - Bernard Osei-Tutu, M.D (INTERIM SECRETARY WAHF)