HeroRATs: Sniffing Out Landmines and Tuberculosis

 
$192,767
$57,232
Raised
Remaining

Summary

APOPO's trained HeroRATs are saving lives and limbs, by using their exceptional sense of smell to sniff out unexploded landmines and tuberculosis.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

APOPO addresses the need for cheap, reliable and locally manageable demining detection services and Tuberculosis screening by training and providing HeroRATS. APOPO’s HeroRATS are currently working in Mozambique to offer villagers safe return to their homesteads, access to vital farmland, and open doors for essential infrastructure. APOPO also partners with clinics to offer TB screening to a population of 500,000 slum dwellers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

How will this project solve this problem?

HeroRATS are currently working in Mozambique and have helped over 300 families return to their daily lives free from the terror of landmines. Weekly, they also identify an average of 5-10 patients with active TB that were missed at the clinics.

Potential Long Term Impact

This project will allow families to return to their homes, reclaim their land, and live freely from the terror of landmines. We will also screen the most vulnerable populations for TB, providing access to treatment and longer, healthier lives.

Project Message

I will be very happy if one day I see my village free from landmines
- Solomon Chumule, Landmine victim and village elder from Mozambique

Funding Information

Total Funding Received to Date: $192,767
Remaining Goal to be Funded: $57,232
Total Funding Goal: $250,000

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Excel file (projdoc.xls).

Resources

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Organization

Project Leader

Bart Weetjens

Founder and Director
Sokoine University, Morogoro Tanzania, United Republic of

Where is this project located?

Map of HeroRATs: Sniffing Out Landmines and Tuberculosis