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AWARD CEREMONY FOR THE AERCG’S AADOFA RECENT HUMANITARIAN MISSION TO GHANA

DATE : April 14, 1998

PLACE: GEM Threater , 18^th & Vine, Kansas City, MO

TIME : 5.30pm –7.30pm

The AERCG in concert with Mayor Emmanuel Cleaver II recently completed a successful Humanitarian Mission to Ghana This unique and historic humanitarian program called the African-American Doctors For Africa (AADOFA). This is the first time in the history of the African-American community nationwide in the US to undertake such a comprehensive initiative which was the first in a series of an annual Mission to African countries. AERCG and the African-American medical practitioners and other medical practitioners from other ethnicity within the metropolitan area and other States will be award at a ceremony at the GEM thearter on 18^th & Vine, KCMO.

Other awards will be presented to the AERCG’s program called the African-American Firefighters For Africa (AAFoA) a collaborative effort with the Black Firefighters Association of Kansas City who also participated in a Mission to Ghana.

The sponsors of the Mission will also be presented awards and recognized at the ceremony. Dignitries and sponsors will include major HMOs, Hospitals, Health Centers within the metropolitan area.

The African Environmental Research Consulting Group (AERCG) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Kansas. The AERCG has taken a patriotic stance to tackle the root causes of the African socio-economic, human health, trade and environmental deterioration problems. The AERCG completed its first phase of its project to test pilot its principles and theories of Sustainable Development that has been uniquely tailored to Africa.

The AERCG which is comprised of native African expatriates, other nationalities and ethnic groups, who are professional scientists, engineers, health practitioners, economists and developers. AERCG has developed new holistic approaches to African environmental and health problems based on Sustainable Development theories. This holistic approach is underscored by the positive synergies that reside between humanitarian and economic development, and is intended to address poverty, starvation, homelessness, population explosion, decline of health and environmental degradation in African.

This unprecedented initiative is led in-part by Mayor Emanuel Cleaver, Mayor of Kansas City and AERCG’s Chairman Peter A. Sam,ASC;BS;MS .

AERCG’s Sustainable Development principles include the establishment of the African-American Doctors For Africa (AADOFA). This is the first time African-American doctors have gathered in mass to attend to the health problems of the marginalized communities in Africa. Very widely agreed upon goals of sustainable development are; healthy environment, responsible consumption of natural resources, better quality of life, and improved quality health care, are very difficult to attain without a trade-off. AERCG has formulated an approach which transcends all the overarching dynamics that plague the African continent. This approach is underscored by the Mission of AADOFA. Sustainable development refers to the need to balance economic growth with the sustainable use of natural resources and minimizing adverse environmental impacts. The (socio-economical, cultural and political) dynamics of the African Continent have aggravated aspects of Africa’s human health and environmental deterioration. AERCG believes that economic growth, quality health care, diminished adverse environmental impacts and capacity building are achievable through a well-thought out strategy that actively involves the indigenous population.

Africa throughout the years has faced massive pressures on its environment and human health from hazardous waste and chemicals being dumped by developed countries in unsafe manner in many poor communities. This has resulted in fatal and catastrophic human health conditions and death in many instances. A recent 60 Minutes television program co-hosted by Mike Wallace highlighted some of these immoral activities from the Western countries that have contributed to the massive suffering of the African people. Health service expenditures are another factor that contributes to the African health problem. Presently developed countries account for 90 percent of public and private health service expenditures of the world. The U.S., for example, accounts for 41 percent of the total $1.7 trillion spent. While less developed countries account for only 10 percent (or $41 per person per year), and African countries in general fall below this amount at $14 per person per year. The U.S. spends $191 per person on pharmaceuticals alone as compared to less than $10 per person in Africa (World Bank, World Development Report 1993).

Environmental degradation significantly contributes to the spread of diseases. Poor sanitation and other impoverished living conditions add to Africa's burden of endemic diseases such as malaria (80 million cases annually), tuberculosis (229 cases per 100,000 population, the world's

highest rate), malnutrition (22 million cases annually in children under five years old), and of course AIDS. These diseases are spreading rapidly in East and Southern Africa among children and women (women account for 50‑60 percent of cases).

We, native African expatriates, African-Americans and other sympathizers can no longer stand on the sidelines. There have been traditional piecemeal approaches in the past such as sending medicines, food and attending to the sick during an epidemic etc. We believe that there has to be an holistic approach that tackles the root causes of these socio-economic, cultural and environmental predicaments in conjunction with remedial activities both short term intervention and long term sustainable activities. AADOFA provides both short and long term solutions to the medical and health delivery system by providing immediate medical services to needy, and by providing medical training and medical information to the indigenous on a regular basis. Other programs have been developed under AERCG_s sustainable development principle from an African perspective such as the Trade & Humanitarian Mission to Ghana. This project is the first of an annual Mission to other African countries.

In conclusion, AERCG and Mayor Cleaver believe that the Mission to Ghana is a "Win-Win" preposition which would benefit the developing nations such as Ghana whose economy is raising steadily but faces significant unemployment, massive poverty, and health and environmental crises. The State of Missouri especially the City of Kansas City has been very instrumental in developing this Mission. We believe the trade and commerce alliance with Ghana will provide jobs and economic growth to Missouri; and it will provide jobs, improved environment, better human health, and improved living conditions to the people of Ghana. In addition, it will give the US investors and businesses a competitive business edge in a global market. This can all be achieved with the sustainable and holistic approach being tested by AERCG.