This article is from the EMU News Archive. Current EMU new is available at www.emu.edu/news

MEDA Cited at White House Conference

Allon H. Lefever was interrupted in the middle of his presentation at the White House, but he’s not complaining.

Allon H. Lefever

Lefever, director of the masters in business administration program (MBA) at EMU, was explaining Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) efforts to lower malaria rates in Africa at a "Compassion in Action" roundtable in Washington, D.C.

More than 120 top-level government officials and heads of NGO’s (non-governmental organizations) were there.

"I was sticking to the strict time limit given for my presentation," Lefever recalled. "Then, security persons appeared at the doors and First Lady Laura Bush walked in. I suddenly had about one minute to sum up my remarks."

MEDA Shares 'Best Practices'

The Feb. 15 by-invitation gathering was hosted by the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to address the topic, "Controlling Malaria in Africa – The Unique Role of Faith-Based and Community NGO’s."

It was a direct response to President Bush’s call to Congress to provide additional funding to combat malaria in 15 of the hardest-hit African nations as part of the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), which he referred to in his recent State of the Union address.

MEDA was one of five non-governmental organizations to share "best practices" for reducing malaria at the roundtable meeting.

In her response to the presentations, Mrs. Bush said that "private sector institutions bring a fresh perspective and a personal touch to the fight against malaria. We urge even more faith-based and community organizations to join these efforts to reach more people by using their resources strategically."

The First Lady went on to note that "we have already seen the benefits of this organization in Tanzania," where the government’s malaria program subsidizes bed net vouchers for pregnant women.

"Now through a partnership between PMI and Mennonite Economic Development Associates, the program will be expanded to cover all of Tanzania’s children," Mrs. Bush said.

A pregnant Tanzanian woman exchanges a PWV voucher for an insecticide-treated bed net from a contracted retailer as part of a MEDA-run malaria prevention program.

First Program of Its Kind

Launched in 2004, The Pregnant Women Voucher (PWV) program is the first nationwide voucher program aimed at preventing malaria in pregnant women. The discount voucher is redeemable for an insecticide-treated or a long-life net from contracted retailers and wholesalers throughout the country.

To date, more than three million vouchers have been distributed by MEDA in all 21 regions of mainland Tanzania with an 80 percent redemption rate.

"My observation is that MEDA is highly respected in the Washington Faith-Based office," Lefever said. "Congress has passed $25 million more for this program that the president had requested, which is wonderful news."

Mennonite Economic Development Associates is an association of compassionate business women and men who invest in the lives of families living in poverty around the world. Through MEDA, faith-oriented business owners, executives and leaders are able to integrate their life values with business in practical ways to help the poor.

Lefever is vice chair of the MEDA board of directors.

— article by: Jim Bishop; posted February 20, 2007