This micro-project will provide needed clinical materials and other supplies to student nurses in need at Mindanao State University and Sulu State College nursing programs in impoverished Sulu, Philippines. These islands have among the highest rates of infant and maternal mortality in the world, according to the World Health Organization.
A large percentage of the world's women and girls are denied the opportunity to receive a quality education to realize their professional goals. These regions also are affected by high poverty and dramatically diminished public health conditions. A major need is to protect mothers and infants in childbirth. Asia America Initiative supports nursing schools in Sulu (Mindanao State University and Sulu State College) to provide an opportunity for livelihood & public health for women and children.
Our "Support 50 Muslim Girls to Become Nurses" is a global model for equal opportunity. AAI continues to provide textbooks, clinical materials, and school supplies to improve the quality of education. In December 2018, we would like to raise a modest $20 per student in this micro-project to send essential supplies in the upcoming semester. Our emphasis will be on childbirth training. These students show the capabilities of women worldwide to contribute to their communities.
The nursing programs in Sulu are a beacon of hope for the entire community. As compared to just 30 percentage pass rate of its students in the national nursing exams three years ago when the school faced closure, students are now performing among the top of all such schools in the Philippines. The challenge is to sustain this success by supporting bright young students in their studies. As of December 2018, AAI has helped assist the successful licensing of close to 200 new nurses in Sulu.
