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Sarah Bouchie, CEO of Helen Keller International on Combating Global Blindness, Malnutrition, and the Impact of Climate Change
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Sarah Bouchie, CEO of Helen Keller International on Combating Global Blindness, Malnutrition, and the Impact of Climate Change.
Helen Keller International's Mission: Helen Keller International, a 109-year-old organization, focuses on combating blindness, poor health, and malnutrition. The organization scales innovative solutions to ensure everyone can live a healthy life and achieve their full potential.
Global Operations and Focus Areas: The organization operates as an international NGO with headquarters in New York City and local registrations in various countries. Active in 20 countries, they work on preventing blindness, addressing neglected tropical diseases, and tackling eye health issues like refractive error, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy. The focus is on underlying causes of vision loss and malnutrition.
Current Projects and Achievements: Sarah discusses progress in eliminating neglected tropical diseases like trachoma in West Africa. She shares the transformative impact of providing glasses to children in New York City and Minneapolis. The organization is also addressing global food poverty exacerbated by the climate crisis, particularly affecting Africa and South Asia.
Challenges and Solutions: Helen Keller International addresses malnutrition by naming and analyzing the issue, identifying vulnerable communities, and funding effective programs. Successful interventions include promoting breastfeeding, providing vitamin A supplementation, and treating acute and severe malnutrition. Political will, supply chains, and health system expertise are crucial for effective action.
Community Engagement and Behavioral Change: Sarah highlights the role of community health workers in promoting nutritional diversity, using her experiences in Kenya as an example. Local planning and community-based agriculture are essential for ensuring access to nutritious food. Malnutrition issues are present in both the Global South and advanced economies like the United States, requiring behavior change and political commitment.
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