ColaLife opens up Coca-Cola's distribution channels in developing countries to save children's lives, by supporting micro-retailers to sell AidPods - affordable kits containing oral rehydration salts, Zinc and soap, to mothers in remote areas. Mothers may walk 20 km to a health centre to find it stocked out; but most communities have small shops close by. For every 10 AidPods sold, the shop keeper earns $2.50, and 10 mothers can treat their child at home for diarrhea - the 2nd biggest killer.
You can buy Coca-Cola virtually anywhere in developing countries, but 1 in 8 children die before their 5th birthday from simple, preventable causes like dehydration from diarrhea. In Zambia that's 11,000 unnecessary child deaths a year. Rural mothers have stark choices: ignore diarrhea, risk a long walk with a sick child; pay for a ride. With vast distances, Health Ministries struggle to staff and re-stock remote health posts, even with cheap drugs like Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) or Zinc.
ORS and Zinc, the 'gold standard' for childhood diarrhea, is cheap, effective and gives protection for 3 months. Hand washing with soap can prevent 46% of cases. ColaLife AidPods provide all 3 - and graphical training leaflets for mothers - in an affordable Kit, that measures the water for each child-sized sachet of ORS, and is a cup. Small shops, often well-stocked, do exist in remote areas: by 'upskilling' micro-retailers, we save lives, improve livelihoods and create a sustainable solution.
We demonstrate the power of design for the world's poorest: an attractive, affordable, desirable product for home treatment of diarrhea. We meet their need, to have effective medicine close to home; in an easy-to-use Kit, that helps them measure and make up small quantities of ORS correctly, in a hygienic resealable pack. And sales put profits back into poor communities. With the world's biggest brand, plus UNICEF and WHO behind us, we have a partnership that can replicate across the world.
My child had diarrhea for 4 months: 3-4 days of diarrhea, 1-2 without. She had no appetite, was irritable, miserable. I went to the health centre twice but they had nothing. 'Kit Yamoyo' stopped it.
- Talisa Phiri, Customer at Chison Banda's shop in rural Katete
Total Funding Received to Date: $8,768
Remaining Goal to be Funded: $1,232
Total Funding Goal: $10,000
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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