Montréal, le 8 octobre 2014 –écrit par Line Bonneau
Montreal, October 8, 2014 – written by Line Bonneau
This is how Shara Rosen, a resident of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, recently spoke on Senegalese radio to explain her tireless volunteer work as president of the Senegal Santé Mobile Foundation set up following the avoidable death of a 12-year-old girl. years old, member of his extended family.
Shara Rosen, an entrepreneur and consultant in the field of medical diagnostics, had been volunteering with women’s cooperatives in Senegal since 1997. But it was in 2003, when a young relative died following a diagnosis of malaria although she was suffering from yellow fever, which Mrs. Rosen felt challenged by. Shara Rosen knew from her professional experience that this death was preventable. It was finally in 2008 that a small group of people began to think about the means at their disposal to provide assistance to the Senegalese population, in particular girls and women, mothers and infants, whose needs in basic care is urgent. In 2009, the Sénégal Santé Mobile Foundation was created and activities began the following year.
Since then, numerous medical supplies, medicines and equipment have been sent to the Gorom 1 Health Post and the Rufisque Polyclinic, near Dakar, the capital of Senegal. Two videos demonstrate these donations
et
For the first time this year, the Foundation will attempt a partnership with Health Partners International to equip maternity wards in less well-served villages for $1,000 per maternity ward. In Senegal, there is a high infant mortality rate and women have to deal with short and long term consequences because their pregnancies are not monitored. By making quality prenatal and postnatal care accessible, the Sénégal Santé Mobile Foundation has a direct impact on the health, well-being and survival of pregnant women, mothers and infants in Senegal.
In 2014, the Sénégal Santé Mobile Foundation is in the process of marketing washable sanitary towels, Serviettes SantéVie®, an innovation developed following studies with adolescent girls and women. The lack of healthy and affordable products not only causes health problems such as urinary infections but also contributes to girls dropping out of school at the age of 11 or 12 while it is estimated that one in ten girls remains at home during her period or simply drops out of school. Typically, adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa miss up to 20% of their classes. This product, which is in the start-up phase, is made in Senegal and will soon be made by a cooperative of Senegalese women. The project aims to break even and all profits will be reinvested in the activities of the Maternal Health Foundation. In addition, this reusable product meets an environmental need to reduce the amount of waste.
When asked about her generosity, Shara Rosen mentions her exceptional parents who are her inspiration and gave her a taste for getting involved and helping others. “The Foundation is small and young. We have around fifteen active volunteers and a single paid coordinator on site. We know that the needs are great and we are going there step by step. But every gesture counts for maternal and child health in Senegal.”
Invited by Senegalese radio listened to by locals and the diaspora, Ms. Rosen mentioned the next fundraising event for maternal health, a multicultural dinner with world music and stories in four languages, French, Wolof, English and Yiddish, which will be held in Montreal on October 25 at 6 p.m., at the Ruby Foo’s Hotel at 7655 boul. Décarie (Namur metro).
Tickets are $50 per person, $80 for two people and $35 for students. The animation is done by Mariam Sall, Madyou Ndoye, Abby & Mark, Patrick McLaughlin, Bara Mbengue, and Zale Seck. Reservations can be made until October 20 with the Foundation.
This multicultural event is an excellent opportunity to learn more about maternal health and the impact of the Foundation since friends and volunteers of the Sénégal Santé Mobile Foundation will be there!
The work of Shara Rosen and the Sénégal Santé Mobile Foundation, “It goes straight to our hearts” finished the radio host, Mayacine Diop.
Contact: Shara Rosen, President
Fondation Sénégal Santé Mobile
4100 Benny, #111
Montreal, Quebec H4B 2R8
514 369 8607, 514 240 9596