Let’s End the Scourge of Malaria

BY DR. GEORGE ONUORAH

During the March 20 Queens Day trip to Albany, where a group of business, civic and nonprofit organizations converged to meet state legislators to advocate for their organizations, members of the When In Need (WIN) Foundation called for a concerted effort to end the scourge of malaria in Nigeria and Africa.

As a nonprofit organization and member of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, WIN focuses on three key sustainable areas, health, education and agriculture, but is presently addressing the issue of malaria in Nigeria. Malaria is the cause of 300,000 deaths annually, many of whom are vulnerable children and women.

The WIN Foundation is gearing up for a free medical mission to Nigeria in May. By no means are these medical missions easy. Resources are, for the most part, the biggest challenge.

Dr. Chetachi Dunkley-Ecto, WIN Foundation CEO, discussed some of the humanitarian challenge at a recent Rotary Club of New York meeting at the Union League in Manhattan.

Queens Day in Albany was an opportunity to highlight the importance of those in government to support the work of nonprofit entities to enable the continuation of charity work in various communities in need.

In April 2017, State Senator James Sanders, Jr. traveled with WIN to Nigeria and saw firsthand the difficulties faced by remote, impoverished villages where standard of living is still very poor and abysmal.

In Albany, the WIN Foundation was joined by EMU Health CEO Daniel J. Lowy and Hannah Stein, Cynthia Davis and Brian DiPaolo of the Floating Hospital.

A highlight of the March trip was a visit to the legislative chambers. Some of the legislators whose offices we visited included State Senator Michael Gianaris, Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan, Assemblywoman Vivian Cook, Assemblyman Clyde Vanel.

Sanders addressed the lunch plenary on some of the big investments state government is presently undertaking by JFK Airport and some opportunities for MWBE businesses in Queens.

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