Our Mission
A Chance for Every Child (ACEC) is a human service organization focused on improving health and quality of life for children in developing nations by facilitating access to healthcare, empowering communities through education, and forming strategic partnerships to foster sustainable healthcare systems.
We are currently in the midst of a global health crisis; however, child survival is one health challenge in which we can make a dramatic difference. Each year, millions of children die before reaching the age of five. Greater accessibility to basic health essentials and inexpensive medical interventions would improve these children's chance of survival.
Our first project focuses upon the Republic of Sierra Leone, targeting the following initiatives:
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is the second leading cause of death after malaria. Malnutrition is often a complicating factor in other causes of death, including diarrhea, tuberculosis, and acute respiratory infections.
Out of Sierra Leone's twelve districts, Port Loko has the highest rate of malnutrition for children under five years of age, with over 11,000 children estimated to be severely malnourished.
Due to this dire unmet need, ACEC will build a malnutrition treatment center in the Port Loko District. The center will provide children with proper nutrition to return to a healthy state and educate mothers on how to sustain their child's improved health. Our goal is to reduce severe malnutrition by 50% in the Port Loko District within the next five years.
Acute Medical Care
Sierra Leone currently suffers from a shortage of medical staff, particularly in rural areas. As a result, primary care is generally unavailable for most Sierra Leoneans. In addition to lack of staffing, medical treatment is too costly for the general population.
ACEC will create a team of healthcare professionals/volunteers to host day clinics 2-3 times a year in Sierra Leone. In order to maximize medical coverage for the local population, we will target common medical problems. We will also give priority to children and pregnant mothers who bear the highest burden of disease and greatest likelihood of early mortality.
Medical Supplies
Beyond a shortage of staff, practicing clinicians lack basic medical equipment and supplies, further complicating their ability to provide adequate care to those in need. ACEC will address this by providing 3-4 annual shipments of medical supplies to existing hospitals and clinics. This initial effort will help support our partner healthcare organizations in providing care to the children of Sierra Leone.
Health Education
By building a rapport with the local communities of developing nations, we can identify the degree of unmet need in each region more accurately.
Based on this information, ACEC will develop community-specific health education programs focusing on malaria, vaccinations, HIV prevention, and family planning.
Learn more about these initiatives.
