Tampa Joins Local Coalitions Across America on Campaign to Improve Child Health and Survival Worldwide

Tampa Joins Local Coalitions Across America on Campaign to Improve Child Health and Survival Worldwide

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- A coalition of local media, health organizations, universities, and faith-based institutions in Tampa have joined with 30 other communities across the country in an effort to increase awareness of the 11 million children who die each year worldwide (pbs.org/rxforsurvival/campaign).

As part of WGBH/Boston and Vulcan Productions' Rx for Child Survival(TM), a nationwide mobilization campaign created by WGBH/PBS Boston and Vulcan Productions, WEDU is working with the AIDS Institute, University of South Florida, Girls Scouts of Suncoast Council, Pediatric Health Alliance, Planned Parenthood, and Healthy Start to form this unprecedented coalition.

Kicking off the campaign, Her Royal Highness Princess Ndahendekire of Uganda and local Philanthropist Dr. Kiran Patel, will serve as guest speakers at a child health event on October 27th at 7pm at the USF Alumni Center. Organized by global health students, local community partners and national organizations, the event will include a preview of PBS's Rx for Survival series, cultural performances, international potluck dinner, lectures by high- level policy makers and international health experts, and an exhibition on local and global health organizations.

On November 2nd, WEDU will sponsor an evening screening and panel discussion (7-9pm) at 1300 North Blvd in Tampa. Speakers will include Dr. France Lane of the Pediatric Health Alliance, as well as law and public health students and members of the Community Health Advocacy Partnership. Other efforts are being undertaken by the Girl Scouts of the Suncoast Council, who are making medical kits to send through the Sesame Street Project to parents in Bangladesh and Egypt.

"We know what to do to save children's lives. It's just a question of doing it," said Mary Beth Powers, senior health advisor, Save the Children. "Through Rx for Child Survival, Tampa is leading the way in helping millions of children survive to age 5."

The Rx for Child Survival campaign was created by WGBH and Vulcan Productions to coincide with their far-reaching multimedia project Rx for Survival-A Global Health Challenge(TM) anchored by a six-part television series airing November 1-3, 2005 on PBS stations across the country. Major funding for the project was provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The Merck Company Foundation.

LOCAL COALITION CONTACTS: Sartura S. Shuman, 813.254.9338 x2243, sshuman@wedu.org Frederick Wright, 813.334.6959, Fwright@theaidsinstiute.org

GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL CONTACT: Mariah Richardson-Osgood, 202.833.5900x3213, mrichardson-osgood@globalhealth.org

Source: Global Health Council

CONTACT: Local Coalition, Sartura S. Shuman, +1-813-254-9338 x2243, sshuman@wedu.org, or Frederick Wright, +1-813-334-6959, Fwright@theaidsinstiute.org; or Mariah Richardson-Osgood of Global Health Council, +1-202-833-5900 x3213, mrichardson-osgood@globalhealth.org

Web site: http://www.globalhealth.org/ http://www.pbs.org/rxforsurvival/campaign http://www.wedu.org/ http://www.pbs.org/ http://www.vulcanproductions.com/

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