medicine for the world Our mission: To provide medicines and health supplies to those in need around the world so they might experience life to the fullest.
Fall 2021 | Volume 54
You’re helping bring lifesaving medicines and health supplies to a world in need. In 2021, MAP International is committed to expanding our global reach through critical programs like our Bringing Children Health, Vitamins and Nutritionals Program, Domestic Medicines Program and Medical Mission Program. Thanks to friends like you, so far this year we have already achieved so much, including:
Reaching 35,000 in 38 countries through our Bringing Children Health program
Supporting 29 US healthcare facilities in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois and Virginia
Providing more than $25 million in donated medicines and health supplies to partners across Liberia
In this newsletter, we highlight several key initiatives along with firsthand accounts from health professionals so that you may read in their own words how the generosity of MAP partners touches the lives of so many. With your help and God’s grace, MAP will bring more health and hope in Jesus’ name to those who would otherwise be forgotten.
FOCUS: Vitamins and Nutritionals Program Saves Lives The country of Nicaragua has been in a state of political unrest for the last several years. The COVID-19 pandemic plunged the country further into despair, as tourism all but ceased and many people lost their jobs. Add to that the impact of Hurricanes Eta and Iota, and in 2020 a staggering 90,000 more people were forced into poverty – now living on less than $32 U.S. dollars per person per day. For Nicaraguan families who are just struggling to survive, following a proper diet, or taking vitamins every day is a luxury that they simply cannot afford. According to MAP’s partner who is serving the poor in Nicaragua, the local health departments often lack sufficient resources to fully serve their communities, and most people have to buy their medicines at private pharmacies – where it is more expensive. Vitamins or nutritional aids are resources that are unaffordable and unavailable to most Nicaraguans – and yet very much needed, since poverty almost always eliminates the luxury of eating proper, nutritious food.
MAP recognizes that this is a global issue, and through our Vitamins and Nutritionals Program, has formed strategic partnerships to combat the lack of vitamin products in developing countries like Nicaragua. “Nutritional products are very expensive to purchase here,” says MAP’s partner. “Nutritional products like the Thrive Nourish Nutritional Aid Mix [donated by MAP] are a great blessing.” The nutritional aids are distributed to local clinics and then provided to patients free of charge. “These donated products help to provide treatment for their health needs, while at the same time helping to relieve the financial struggles that they face.” MAP’s partner tells the stories of several special people who benefit from MAP’s Vitamins and Nutritionals Program. Each one relies on these donated vitamin products to stay healthy – and for some – alive.
Teresa
Ruth
Teresa, age 76, has struggled with many different health issues over the years. Due to problems with her circulation, she often suffers from open sores on her feet and legs. These sores make it painful for her just to move around her house, much less stand in the kitchen long enough to prepare a meal. For Teresa, the Thrive Nourish from MAP will not only help her maintain her energy, but also can serve as a meal replacement when she doesn’t feel well enough to cook for herself.
For Ruth, who suffered a traumatic injury to her brain stem at the age of 21, MAP’s donation is essential to keeping her healthy. Ruth is 61 years old now, and lives in a little house with her mother and brother. She has gradually lost the ability to care for herself and is now in a wheelchair. Her family helps take care of her, and because she has no teeth, she is on a mostly liquid diet. Nutritional products from MAP are critical to getting Ruth the nutrients and vitamins that her body needs.
Alberto Alberto Napoleon recently received the devastating diagnosis of cancer when doctors discovered a tumor in his stomach. MAP’s partner says that he is scheduled to have surgery soon to remove the tumor, but he can no longer eat solid foods and his weight has dropped significantly. “He has his faith in God to do what’s best for him as he faces these challenges,” says MAP’s partner. While he is awaiting surgery, and hopefully a good outcome, Alberto Napoleon is grateful to have access to the nutrition that his body needs. What an honor to play a small part in keeping an inspiring man like Alberto strong while he courageously battles his cancer!
FOCUS: Equipping Mission Teams Brings Health to Many Martin looked down with concern at his deformed, swollen ankle. The “bone healer” he had sought help from after his accident had clearly not been successful. At this point, Martin had little hope of experiencing true healing from his injury. Even with his job as a university professor, he could never afford the surgery he would need at a hospital. In Liberia, where Martin lives, accessing quality – or affordable – care in a medical facility is terribly difficult. After a traumatic injury like Martin’s, most Liberians seek care from the more accessible traditional “bone healers,” and then do their best to get by, even if their injury never heals correctly. According to the World Health Organization, “Five billion people in the world lack access to safe, affordable surgical and anaesthesia care when needed,” and perhaps even more sadly, “a quarter of all people who have a surgical procedure will face financial catastrophe as a result of seeking care.” When Martin discovered that his injury could be repaired by a surgeon visiting from America, he was overjoyed. Dr. Steven Jasonowicz, a podiatric surgeon from Illinois, and his friend Shady Salamon, visited JFK Memorial Hospital in Monrovia and performed 15 surgeries for patients with traumatic bone injuries, free of charge. They came with their suitcases stuffed to the limit with surgical supplies, medications, and high-quality sutures donated by MAP International. Dr. Jasonowicz was able to repair Martin’s ankle so that it would heal properly, and sent him home with some antibiotics and pain reliever to aid in his recovery. “I will never forget how appreciative the patients were for the care we provided,” Dr. Jasonowicz said.
Dr. Jasonowicz in Liberia
This was the first time Dr. Jasonowicz and his friend Shady had traveled to Liberia on foreign missions, and “we are eager and excited to go back to Liberia and continue the work in the future!” he said. His first experience in a Liberian operating room was certainly one that taught him to be creative with limited resources, however. “Their operating rooms are so different. It almost looks relatively normal, but the operating room beds don’t work, they didn’t have one working anesthesia machine, and there are leaks in the ceiling.” “I think the biggest thing that was a struggle was the supplies that you use during surgery,” Dr. Jasonowicz reported. Even the simplest of instruments, such as surgical blades, were not of the same high quality that is so readily available in the U.S., so he was especially thankful for the sutures he had available to him from MAP.
Since Dr. Jasonowicz and Shady traveled independently, and not with any particular organization, he says that coordinating their trip over the past year was like a fulltime job, but “working with MAP was the easiest part!” “Thank you so much for the help and support of my trip,” Dr. Jasonowicz continued. “Hopefully we can continue to treat more patients together in the future!”
FOCUS: Bringing Children Health Program Reaches 38 Countries Little 17-month-old Leissa Pierre was suffering. She had battled a fever and flu-like symptoms for 4 days before her mother was able to get her to the pediatric clinic run by a MAP partner. Her mother arrived at the clinic desperate for someone – anyone – who could help her child. She was worried sick, and unable to sleep at night, terrified to leave her post by Leissa’s side, even for a bit of rest. When the doctor examined Leissa, her little lungs were crackling with each breath. She was diagnosed with pneumonia – the second largest cause of death in children under the age of 5 in Haiti, where Leissa lives. But Leissa was fortunate. In a country like Haiti, where many children die of pneumonia simply because there is a lack of available treatment for the disease, she found hope. The clinic where her mother sought help was able to offer her the antibiotics that would save her life. Thanks to MAP medicines, little Leissa did not become a terrible statistic. Instead, she left the clinic with medicines and hope, and returned one week later, healed and whole.
Leissa Pierre receives life-saving care
“We are very grateful for the donors of MAP International,” the partner representative said. “As it is by their continued support that we can together make a difference in the Haitian people’s lives. Endless thanks for all that you do.”
FOCUS: MAP 365 Monthly Giving Program Makes a Difference! For Janice Mitchell, being part of the MAP family runs deeper than just being on staff at the organization. Not only is she MAP’s Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, but she is also a dedicated monthly supporter of MAP’s mission. Janice began working at MAP International two years ago. At the
time, she was living and working in Birmingham, Alabama, but for personal and family reasons, needed to make the move back to Georgia. During some online job searching, she stumbled across MAP. “The first time I started to learn about the organization, I was completely blown away by the work that the organization did,” Janice says. In fact, she was so impressed that she gave a financial gift to MAP even before the organization ever actually employed her. For Janice, MAP’s mission of delivering medicines and health supplies to people in need around the world is something that “paves the way for people to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ.” At the end of the day, regardless of the challenges that the workday may have presented, Janice is
Janice Mitchell
4700 Glynco Parkway | Brunswick, GA 31525 1.800.225.8550 | map.org
passionate about giving her best to an organization that is changing and saving lives all over the world. “I’ve seen firsthand how MAP stewards the gifts it receives, so knowing that my monthly contribution helps so many people get lifesaving medicines and health supplies makes my spirit rejoice.”
MAP365 Learn more about how you can join the MAP 365 Monthly Giving Program by visiting map.org/map365.
Because of you.
Today, smiles are chasing away tears for so many in forgotten places who now have health and hope because of your unwavering generosity. We dedicate our Fall 2021 Newsletter to our faithful supporters who make it possible for MAP International to carry out our calling to provide vital medicine and health supplies for a world in desperate need. We hope you’ve been encouraged by what you’ve read. Please know, a gift in any amount will help ensure we have even more inspiring stories of redemption to share.
Give today!