COLUMBUS, Ohio (October 22, 2004) - Dr. Jeremiah Lowney, of Norwich, Conn., today was named one of three finalists for the 2004 Cardinal Health Children's Care Award. This international Award honors a person who is making extraordinary contributions to the health and well-being of children around the globe. Individuals honored by the World of Children Awards were selected by the World of Children's International Advisory Council, led by boxing legend and United Nations' Ambassador of Peace Muhammad Ali. The Award winners will be announced and Honorees recognized during a ceremony at UNICEF House in New York, N.Y., on Nov. 16, 2004.
As founder of the Haitian Health Foundation (HHF), Lowney originally visited Haiti to perform dental work, but quickly saw the need to provide more comprehensive health-care services for the region's extremely poor families. For the past 22 years, he has returned to Haiti every three months to operate the Foundation and personally care for more than 200,000 Haitians.
HHF now resides in a 27,000-square-foot, three-story outpatient clinic and serves residents of Jeremie, Haiti, and children in 104 outlying villages. Health agents trained by the foundation teach breast feeding, sanitation, nutrition and oral re-hydration. Thousands of children suffering from malnutrition are given food through a feeding program. Lowney also addressed the problem of children in second- and third-degree malnutrition by developing an inpatient malnutrition center that provides 24-hour care.
In 1993, Haiti was hit with a measles epidemic. But no cases were reported in the Jeremie district, affirming the effectiveness of HHF's immunization project. At that time, more than 85 percent of the district's children had been vaccinated. Today, deaths of Haitian children under the age of five have been reduced by 50 percent.
"There are thousands of people living in developing countries without food, health care or hope," said World of Children Founder Harry Leibowitz. "We are pleased to recognize the dedication of Dr. Lowney and others who work to ensure that children have access to life-saving food and health care." Gopa Kothari of Mumbai, India, and Rona Martin, of Zimbabwe, Africa, are the other finalists for the 2004 Cardinal Health Children's Care Award.