Fighting for the Innocent
In 2015 5.9 million children under the age of five died many of whom did not make it to see their first month of life. The devastating reality is that more than half of these deaths were due to medical conditions that could have either been prevented or treated with access to simple and affordable healthcare.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) conditions such as preterm birth intrapartum-related complications and infections are the primary causes of death within the first month of life. For babies and children post neonatal to five years old the main causes of death are diarrhea malaria and pneumonia typically brought on due to severe malnutrition which makes the body more vulnerable.
Even in a developed nation such as the United States the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that children under the age of five made up for 70 percent of pneumonia hospitalizations among children. Pneumonia is a leading cause of hospitalization for children in the U.S.
In the same report Tom Frieden CDC Director said that the recent study demonstrates the crucial need for faster and less-expensive diagnostic tests for physicians to accurately diagnose the cause of pneumonia. And this is in a developed nation. The WHO noted that children in sub-Saharan Africa are more than 14 times more likely to die compared to children from developed nations.
Angels Overseas
In an effort to address the healthcare situation for many children around the world the founders of the Medical Tourism Association (MTA) launched the Angels Overseas Foundation in 2013. The Angels Overseas Foundation is dedicated to financially support children from around the world who need critical life-saving medical care.
The key to this foundation is that the treatment will be provided by MTA partner specialty hospitals throughout the world. The Angels goal is to provide children with access to life saving medical treatment that is not available in their home country. The MTA has over 300 members and many other global connections.
Through their network of people the MTA finds the right places overseas where children can get effective yet reasonably priced healthcare. In addition to healthcare the MTA can also assist in facilitation of their visa accommodation and transportation. The first step in the process is to identify children in need.
The Angels work with in country partners and MTA Chapters to identify these children. A medical assessment of the childs condition is performed locally to determine the type and cost of care needed to save their lives. Partner institutions throughout the world are then engaged in providing the needed care at minimum cost.
Fundraising efforts are developed and led by the local chapter board and supplanted by international efforts led by the Angels Foundation Board.While lack of funding for treatment is almost always an issue it is not the only issue that prevents children from getting the medical care they need.
Sometimes their ailments require special treatment and care which is not available locally. Around the world in developing and developed countries the local medical infrastructure does not always offer the treatments required. Even in the developed countries children die every year due to the lack of timely treatment.
Often times parents cannot afford to pay the out of pocket costs for their child's medical care and when cost is not an issue availability could be. Sometimes waiting months for a treatment is just not an option. Medical care cannot always be delivered to the children the goal of Angels Overseas is to take the children to the medical care.
Support Angels Overseas
Angels Overseas is a non-profit organization and all of their activities are directed towards helping children get proper medical attention. You or your organization's support can mean a lot to a child. Supporting us need not always be financial.
You can support our cause by believing in us and helping us spread awareness and build a better environment for the medical treatment for children. You can help in the following ways:
- Volunteer
- Donate (in cash and kind)
- Spread awareness
- Organizations (medical tourism or others) can be of great help
For more information visit http://angelsoverseas.org
