By Kim Jong-chan
Political Editor
Rotary, one of the world's largest humanitarian service organizations, has announced the launch of a new $1-million mother and child care initiative that seeks to improve the quality of medical services for women and children in Tanzania.
The dedication of the Rotary Mother and Child Medical Complex and the Tumbi Hospital Renovation Project in Kibaha is scheduled for Wednesday, a Korea Rotary spokesman said Tuesday. Rotary International President Lee Dong-kurn will attend the dedication ceremony.
Worldwide, an estimated 26,000 children under the age of five die every day from preventable diseases such as pneumonia, measles and malaria.
``Once I understood the issues behind that terrible number, I made reducing childhood mortality my main focus during my term as president," Lee said.
The new hospital is expected to save up to 42 children per day, the spokesman said. Lee sees this initiative as an essential step to reduce childhood mortality in Africa.
Yun Sang-koo, a member of Sae Hanyang Rotary Club in Seoul spearheading the initiative, said that Rotary clubs in Korea had donated 500 million won (approximately $376,850) to support the initiative.
The donation was matched by the Community Chest of Korea, which supports Rotary's commitment to childhood survival, according to the spokesman.
A fact-finding team organized by Rotary was dispatched to Tanzania in November 2008, he said.