“Do not wait on governments, do it yourself person to person”
Mother Teresa
In 2005, Planting Peace began its ‘Stomp the Worm’
project, a program set forth to provide de-worming medications to poverty stricken areas of the world.
See CNN De-worming Video
Planting Peace first began its “Stomp the Worm’
project in Haiti after a mission trip in which we learned that 80% of the Haitian population is infected with intestinal parasites. It was at that time that we also learned of the devastating effects parasitic worms have on the physical and mental health of the Haitian children.
According to the World Health Organization, intestinal parasites eat up to 20% of a child’s nutritional intake a day. With Haiti being the fourth hungriest country in the world, no Haitian child can afford to have their nutritional intake depleted by 20%. In most cases, ridding a child of these parasitic worms can mean the difference between life and death.
Most of us are aware of the effects malnutrition can have on a child. Poor cognitive development, lifelessness, lethargy, weak immune systems, vital vitamin deficiencies, anemia, etc. However, many do not know to what degree parasitic worms exacerbate this problem. Alleviating parasitic worms is only one step in ridding children of hunger, but it is an essential step.
Planting Peace is also striving to educate people on how to prevent being infected with these parasites and how not to become re-infected once treated. This is an overwhelming task considering the current living conditions in Haiti and other underdeveloped countries regarding poor sanitation, raw sewage, lack of potable drinking water, minimal health care facilities and extreme poverty. However, we believe through treatment and through education, we can make a difference.
It is also the goal of Planting Peace to bring awareness to the people of this country as to the health and living conditions of Haiti and elsewhere.
No child should be left alone to sleep on the streets… no child should be without love and guidance… no child should go to bed hungry…. No child should have to live with a belly full of worms.
It is our hope that the word of our efforts will spread, and that more people will not only declare this to be unacceptable, but will be willing to give forward.
In order to give help, one must know of the need.
HOW THIS PROGRAM HAS ALREADY HELPED
From 2005 until mid 2007, Planting Peace along with the ‘Stomp the Worm’ Project has ordered enough medication to de-worm 1.5 million Haitians.
In January of 2008 Planting Peace ordered 1 million treatments of de-worming medication for the Dominican Republic.
Planting Peace has also sent thousands of treatments to different areas around the world such as Ghana and Guatemala.
In the later part of 2007, Planting Peace gained further momentum after Aaron Jackson, founder of Planting Peace, was honored as a CNN Hero for his de-worming relief efforts in Haiti. This honor, as well as the other major media appearances that followed, allowed for Aaron to bring great awareness to this horrific health issue. Following the airing of Aaron’s CNN documentary, Planting Peace has been able to fund another 2 million de-worming treatments.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Planting Peace purchases it medications directly from a pharmaceutical company. Because we are sold the medication at a discounted price, we are able to de-worm 250 children for less than the cost of a pack of cigarettes.
If you are a member of a private organization, foundation, church, youth group or an individual wanting to help, please contact Planting Peace at 954-394-4989. |
