Why should you care about people in Africa? We have our own problems we need to care about. Isn’t that more important?
What if I tell you caring about people in Africa is caring for your own?
What if I tell you helping people living in developing countries out of poverty is having a direct influence on your life?
How is that so?
You see, especially in these COVID times, it becomes crystal clear that we do not live in bubbles. That we are all connected.
The surfacing of the new Omicron variant is putting a hold on travel plans again. Some countries are re-instating masks and people are getting sick even though they are double-vaccinated. Just as it seemed like we could see light at the end of the tunnel it has been taken away from us again.
Most of the sub-Saharan Africa has very low vaccination rates. South Africa is leading the board with 24% of the population being fully vaccinated. In comparison, only 1.4% of Tanzania’s population has received a double dose.
Now, how does that affect you?
Back to the Omicron variation we are seeing now. Virus mutations happens when it replicates inside an unvaccinated host. When a person is vaccinated the virus doesn’t get a chance to replicate as much and therefore less mutations can happen. Most of these mutations means nothing but now and again it hits jackpot and becomes better at something. Whether it is better at transmitting, more deadly, or becomes or immune to current vaccines is a bit of a lucky dip.
With the extremely low vaccination rates in sub-Saharan Africa the virus has so much more opportunity to mutate, and chances are we are going to see many more variants that will spread and affect us all.
Just send some more vaccines?
If only this was the only hurdle we’d see.
Just like we see people being hesitant to get vaccinated in the rest of the world we are seeing that in Tanzania too. In fact, we have vaccines available at Kamanga Health Centre for anyone who would like to get a shot.
Hesitancy doesn’t only stem from people being COVID-deniers or believing in conspiracy theories.
It comes from lack of education. Not knowing how diseases spread. Not knowing how vaccines can protect you.
It comes from living in severe poverty. Not having money for transport to a hospital. Not being able to afford spending the day walking to a clinic and back. Not having capacity to think any further than how you are going to feed your children and yourself today.
So, what can YOU do?
Support organisations working with healthcare projects poverty alleviation in developing countries just like Australia for Cedar Tanzania.
Enable people living in severe poverty to earn a living. This will allow their children to go to school with full tummies and have capacity to learn. Being able to afford and demand basic healthcare services is essential.
Support organisations in delivering vital healthcare information. Support educational and entrepreneurial project delivered in the poorest areas of the world.
Join us in help making the world a better place.
A place where we can all get vaccinated and have the freedom to travel again.
Donate as little as $10.
Do it once, or make it an automatic monthly donation.