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New York City, January 28, 2014—Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) has awarded $736,140 to Concern Worldwide to fund their efforts to reduce child illness and mortality in Burundi. Concern Worldwide is one of nine organizations chosen by RMHC to receive a portion of more than $3 million in funding to improve maternal, neonatal, and child health around the world.
“We are delighted and honored to be partnering with RMHC to protect the health and wellbeing of children in one of the poorest districts of Burundi,” said Joseph Cahalan, Chief Executive Officer of Concern Worldwide U.S. “The leading causes of death among children under five are entirely preventable, and this investment will allow us to give local health workers and mothers the knowledge and skills they need to keep children healthy. It is literally a life-saving investment.”
Malaria, diarrhea, respiratory infections, and the compounding effects of malnutrition are the most common causes of sickness and death among children in Burundi. This funding will enable Concern to will train nearly 2,500 health workers in proven, low-cost interventions to reach more than 46,000 children under five years old.
To do this, Concern will follow a “train-the-trainer” model in which families are educated in the importance of healthy practices at-home and when and where to seek treatment when their children are sick.
Concern has worked in Burundi since 1994 and currently operates programs in health, education, and livelihoods. This is the first grant Concern Worldwide has received from RMHC, which has awarded nearly $97 million in grants over the last 11 years.
The following trademarks used herein are owned by McDonald's Corporation and its affiliates: Ronald McDonald House Charities, Ronald McDonald House Charities Logo, RMHC, Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room, and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.
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About Concern Worldwide
Concern Worldwide is an international, non-governmental humanitarian organization dedicated to reducing extreme poverty, with 3,000 personnel working in 27 of the world’s poorest countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. Concern Worldwide targets the root causes of extreme poverty through programs in health, education, livelihoods and microfinance, HIV and AIDS, and emergency response, directly reaching nearly 7 million people in 2012. For more information, please visit concernusa.org or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®), a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and wellbeing of children. Through its global network of local Chapters in 58 countries and regions, its three core programs, the Ronald McDonald House®,Ronald McDonald Family Room® and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®, and millions of dollars in grants to support children's programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-operated and supported programs provide access to quality health care and give children and families the time they need together to heal faster and cope better. For more information, visit www.rmhc.org, follow us on Twitter (@RMHC) or like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/RMHC Global).
