Salma Hayek Helping Children In Need (Click Here) 
When I saw this video I thought it touched on two of the topics we were asked to discuss this week. Malnutrition and Lack of Immunizations is a significant problem in many countries around the world. In the media clip you will see actress Salma Hayek on a humanitarian mission to help children in Sierra Leone. She partnered with the people at Pampers and Unicef to bring attention to the need to immunize children. Pampers had a campaign called, "One Pack One Vaccination". This would ensure that a child in need would be immunized in a part of the world where medicine is too expensive to buy.
The video shows that many of the girls in this country are mothers by the age of 13. Breast feeding is discouraged by the husbands because men believe they can not have sexual relations with a woman who is breast feeding. According to the doctors in the video, this contributes to the infant mortality rate in this country. While Ms. Hayek was there she also saw many babies that were dying from starvation. There was an infant boy who was one week old who was hungry. She took the boy and began to nurse him. She said she could look into the child's eyes and see that the baby was instantly satisfied as he began to nurse from her.
This problem stresses the importance of proper nutrition for youngsters. Without nourishment children's brains will not develop properly. I was glad that she brought attention to this epidemic in the country of Sierra Leone. I think that I will continue to research this issue and try to donate money to causes that support funding for providing immunizations and food for children in need.
I think I chose this topic because it fascinates me that we live in a country where some people are actually rejecting having immunizations being given to their children. I understand why there is a fear by some people to give their children some immunizations as there has been studies that link some of the shots to causing Autism. At times I just wonder if people know how truly lucky we are here in the US.
Reference
You Tube. (Performer). (2009). Salma hayek breast feeds babies in africa. [Web Video]. Retrieved from You Tube. (Producer). (n.d.). http://youtu.be/NOnUKXjyo0U
Wow! Thank you for sharing! You are right, often people in our country don't know just how blessed we are. I have many parents that sign immunization waivers. This also makes more work for the teacher because you have to know what illness everyone has and contact those who might be more at risk because they didn't get their child vaccinated. I just completed a home visit with a family and the mother said she is going to get her girls the chicken pox vaccine because last year she pulled her child for a few weeks because someone in our room was exposed...
ReplyDeleteI think we are starting to see more of the childhood diseases return now that parents are making the decision to sign waivers.
DeleteIt is mind bloggling the way that some children have to suffer with hunger and no medical care. We are blessed beyond measure in comparison to these children and families. This child having to take medication that is intended for a horse because that is what they can afford. WoW! Although there is much suffering in third world countries, I admire the work of UNICEF and other organization that strive to make a difference in the lives of children.
ReplyDeletethank you thesha for the video. It was very informative. I am torn on the issue on immunizations. I do not trust our government to give us correct information. Many immunization are driven by big business and big profit. Each person must read the information on both sides of the issue and not just the governments pat answeres. then make the best decision that they can.
ReplyDeleteI can understand that too. I have friends who don't have children and they said when they do, they don't think they'll give all the the required immunizations to their children. The only thing concerns me about that is that we are now starting to see some of the childhood diseases return. I can see both sides though.
DeleteThanks for sharing such an interesting video and information. I do understand what you're saying when you said people in the U.S. are neglecting to give their children immunizations in a country that promotes this. Hopefully people will continue to donate money to these countries so that their children can receive the proper and necessary care needed.
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