Global health equity
To the editor:
Did you know that every year, millions of people die from preventable diseases like malaria and tuberculosis? Luckily, there are lots of little things we can do to help change that! We are the Bainbridge Island Youth Partners in Health Engage Chapter, and our main mission is to educate, advocate and fundraise for global health equity.
To help promote global health equity by contributing funds, there first has to be proposals for appropriations so that government money can be allocated to them. Those proposals have to go through a lengthy process to be approved, but the more citizens show that they care, the more attention proposals relating to global health will be paid.
The money allocated for global health through those proposals goes to organizations such as the Global Fund PEPFAR and USAID, which helps to fund local projects in impoverished countries. The Global Fund also helps support organizations like Partners in Health Engage, the organization that we are helping fundraise for as they help communities in need. Right now, they are working to build the University of Global Health Equity to help communities in Africa gain access to more healthcare education. Other funds such as PEPFAR and USAID help to combat AIDS and HIV.
If you are interested in increasing the money the United States sets aside for global health, we encourage you to research global health appropriations and submit requests to our representatives. You can also call Reps. Jayapal and Kilmer and tell them what increased funds for the Global Fund, PEPFAR, and USAID would mean to you. Together, we can help change the world!
Angeline Hamilton
Bainbridge
It’s not personal
To the editor:
The Bainbridge Island Metro Parks & Recreation recall is about how four people are acting in their official capacity as elected officials for all on the island. The response by board chair Jay C. Kinney in Steven Powell’s article “Recall effort against 4 parks commissioners” focuses on personal attacks vs. engaging in the merits of the extensively researched 60-page recall charges that’s filled with detailed citations and screenshots of the park board’s own emails, meeting minutes and other materials.
Kinney seems determined to make this into a personal issue, but it’s not — it’s a public one. I’m just one of many concerned citizens following the wisdom of Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis who said, “Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.” That is why the recall charges are easily available at RecreationRecallBI.com for all to see.
The truth is over 250 people have signed the online petition (SakaiParkPetition.com) seeking action and answers. This includes many parents concerned about the lack of adequate indoor facilities for gymnastics and aquatics for their kids. People who want to ensure our youth have indoor options for soccer, softball, baseball and basketball during the many months of darkness and rain on BI. They’re asking what happened to the “Central Park” we were all promised four minutes from schools and town (Sakai Park) not four miles away at the BI Recreation Center.
While the recall officials are banking on apathy and indifference, I hope you’ll join us by taking action.
W. Adam Hunt
Bainbridge
