In Northern Uganda innocent children are dying everyday. Havens of Hope – is the newest arm of Gulu Hope – a non profit organization founded in 2007 by Dr. Sally Baynton. Havens of Hope mission is to aide the children in the regions of Northern Uganda, Africa whom are affected with the child-killing disease know as, “Nodding Disease”. There are an estimated 10,000 children with Nodding Disease.
The mission of Havens of Hope is to build Care & Treatment Centers for those victims of Nodding Disease. These Havens will serve as emergency response, effective implantation of medicinal and educational needs, as well as research in hopes to find a cure toward Nodding Disease. The Havens will offer physical and cognitive therapy, nutrition, day care assistance and comfort to the many affected children in these regions.
This baffling neurological condition has been studied by the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control, but there are no answers – only questions regarding the cause and treatment. Gulu Hope wants to help these children NOW! The first Havens of Hope team led by neurologist, Dr. Suzanne Gazda, and Gulu Hope Founder, Dr. Sally Baynton arrived in Uganda May 2012 where they have traveled to Kitgum, Entebbe, Odek, Gulu and other villages to mark the beginning of Havens of Hope.
The first center of care is under construction in a village of Odek and should be completed and open for service by July 2012.
Our initial goal to start this project is to raise $500,000 in order to fulfill the following:
- construction of 20 clinics throughout the affected areas
- construction of latrines for patients and staff
- construction of boreholes (water wells) to help villagers have access to clean water
- medicine, lab equipment and supplies
- social and psychological support
– food
- education
We do not know if this disease has future implications that may affect other parts of the world, but without question we do know that Nodding Disease will destroy a generation of children and drastically effect the socioeconomic stability of those living in this region. Entire families and villages will be wiped away.
Gulu Hope is a non-profit organization (501c3). Your donation is tax-deductible. Havens of Hope is Gulu Hope’s new project in combating Nodding Disease.