IMA World Health’s BEST OF 2017

Dec 15, 2017

2017 best word abstract in vintage letterpress wood type

From Haiti to Indonesia to South Sudan, IMA World Health had a productive, challenging and rewarding year in pursuit of our vision of health, healing and well-being for all.

Here’s a look at some top stories and photos from the year.

Responding to the Famine in South Sudan

This summer, IMA World Health and our partners responded to an official declaration of famine in South Sudan. With funding from Episcopal Relief & Development and All We Can, IMA and partners built a prefabricated clinic in Pajut, Duk County, where approximately 3,600 pregnant or lactating women and 7,200 children under 5 years old previously lacked access to health services.

IMA, with funding from Lutheran World Relief, is working with John Dau Foundation to set up three additional stabilization centers in Payuel, Ayueldit and Padiet, representing an additional 78,000 people in need of services.

Learn more about IMA’s ongoing response, made possible by your donations, here.

A mother exits the John Dau Foundation compound with bags of Super Cereal Plus-- a highly fortified food supplement for children-- in Duk Padiet in South Sudan's Jonglei state, September 29, 2017. Lutheran World Relief has partnered with IMA World Health and in turn, the John Dau Foundation, to set up and run three life-saving medical stabilization centers, including one that will be installed on this site, for the treatment of young children and lactating mothers at risk of death from starvation. The project, called “Providing Emergency Nutrition Services in South Sudan” will reach just under 100,000 individuals. (photo by Allison Shelley for Lutheran World Relief)

A woman and child wait their turn in an outdoor waiting area as a team conducts malnutrition assessments of young children and lactating mothers and hands out nutritional supplements at the John Dau Foundation compound in Duk Padiet in South Sudan's Jonglei state, September 29, 2017. (photo by Allison Shelley for Lutheran World Relief)

Leave it to children to brighten the day. Two boys mimic the actions of a team with the John Dau Foundation as they measure the arm circumference of other children during house-to-house malnutrition assessments of young children and lactating mothers in Duk Padiet in South Sudan's Jonglei state, September 28, 2017. Anyone who meets the criteria will be asked to come to a follow up appointment the following day at the John Dau Foundation clinic compound for treatment. (photo by Allison Shelley for Lutheran World Relief)

Dr. Clown comforts children with cancer in Tanzania

When children arrive at Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania, they’re sick and scared. Everything around them seems strange and uncertain. They need to see a friendly face. Alistidia Albogast dresses up as “Dr. Clown” to comfort children being treated for cancer in the only pediatric oncology ward in Tanzania. IMA World Health supports Muhimbili to treat children for the aggressive but treatable Burkitt’s Lymphoma. Read more here.

Alistidia Albogast is known by at Muhimbili National Hospital as 'Dr. Clown,' and her job is to comfort children who are undergoing cancer treatment. (Josephat Mugunda/IMA World Health)

Celebrating the Day of the African Child

On June 16, children from the Joseph Kangethe School, a public school for Muslim and Christian children of ages 2-13, participated in the commemoration of the Day of the African Child 2017, in Nairobi, Kenya. More than 500 people gathered to commemorate the day and to speak up publicly for the rights of children and adolescents living with HIV.

Children from the Joseph Kangethe School, a public institution for Muslim and Christian children ages 2–13. Photo by Albin Hillert/WCC.

“We are together.”

We met Nesuru and her husband in a photo essay about survivors of sexual violence in Eastern Congo. Nesuru was raped by members of a militia who also burned down her home and village. When her husband found out what happened to her, he wanted to leave. But thanks to counseling and income generation activities through the Ushindi project, the couple is finding a way forward. Read their and other survivors’ stories in the “We are together” essay here.

Nesuru and her husband have found hope and healing through the Ushindi project, led by IMA World Health and funded by the United States Agency for International Development. Photo by Crystal Stafford.

Center of Attention

A baby finds himself in the spotlight as a health worker counsels a group of mothers and caregivers on proper nutrition in South Sumatra, Indonesia. This effort is part of the Millennium Challenge Account-Indonesia’s National Nutrition Communications Campaign, which works to dispel myths and promote healthy behaviors to reduce stunting. IMA is expanding the campaign this year. Learn more here.

Since its launch, the National Nutrition Communications Campaign has reached more than 40 million people through its television campaign, trained 70 journalists on stunting in targeted districts, launched district-level stunting campaigns in its three target districts and launched the project website at www.gizitinggi.org. (Photo by Gloria Nantulya)

Smart Children

Children in Geita, Tanzania, play around with IMA staff during a school visit. With funding from the U.K.’s Department for International Development, IMA implements the Addressing Stunting in Tanzania Early, or ASTUTE, project in five regions in Tanzania, including Geita. The project aims to reduce childhood stunting in high-risk regions of Tanzania. ASTUTE is known locally as Mtoto Mwerevu, Swahili for “smart child.” Learn more here.

New shoes to prevent disease and promote school attendance

IMA World Health supports health around the world in many ways, but one of the most fun is visiting schools across Haiti and fitting children for shoes. IMA has served as a TOMS Giving Partner in Haiti since 2010. Distributing new shoes to children helps to protect feet, prevent disease and facilitate school attendance. Meet some of the kids here.

Students celebrate receiving TOMS shoes at a school in Cayes

Rainy Season in South Sudan

In South Sudan’s Jonglei and Upper Nile states where IMA works, rainy season flooding adds a layer of challenge to ensuring basic health care needs are met. While we often rely on river and air travel to deliver supplies, we still manage day-to-day health care needs the old fashioned way.

These photos represent some of our best work this year—work that is made possible only by the generosity of our donors. Your gifts truly save and improve lives around the world as we strive to achieve health, healing and well-being for all. Thank you for your generous support of IMA World Health as we look ahead to another year of providing basic health care to those who need it most.

Now is the BEST TIME to make your gift. ALL ONLINE GIFTS WILL BE MATCHED $1 FOR $1 until the end of the year by an anonymous donor. Please make your donation today!

Need help with your donation? Contact Jennifer Bentzel, our Fundraising Officer, at 717-353-5088 or at @email.