Program Director
Vitamin Angel Alliance / Johnson & Johnson Vitamin A - Childhood Blindness Prevention

The Johnson & Johnson Vitamin A / Childhood Blindness Prevention Campaign was launched in India in January 2004 in partnership with Vitamin Angel Alliance. The goal of the program is to reach 2 million children by 2007. The program distributes a high dose Vitamin A capsule (200,000 i.u.) combined with an anti-parasitic chewable tablet to infants and children. Educating the local health care workers, teachers, families and communities about the importance of basic nutrition, good hygiene and sanitation is a key component of the Campaign. The program goal is to have a significant impact on reducing childhood blindness in India and to improve the long-term health of the children served. For additional information, please refer to the International Health Section.

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Health Educator
Folic Acid Campaign, March of Dimes

The March of Dimes gave me a Community Award Grant to prevent neural tube birth defects by educating college women on the effects of folic acid upon preconception health and on the health of their future children. I modified the curriculum and conducted in-service folic acid training for the health educators and health peers at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). The goal was to ensure that folic acid education would be incorporated into the health curriculum of the Student Health Services Department.

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Vitamin Angel Program Coordinator
Honduran Health Exchange, Honduras

Traveled extensively in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to conduct assessments of VA projects - data on supplies needed, how products were being used, and the results of interventions.

In Tegucigalpa, Honduras, I evaluated the small, rural medical clinic's needs and use of VA products. While evaluating the needs of the indigenous community, it was apparent they could increase their health and livelihood by learning Permaculture principles. I taught simple terrace gardening and Permaculture techniques to the village women. The clinic staff later informed me that the seeds planted by the women, using the techniques learned, survived the heavy rains.