Vestergaard-Frandsen: A Dream Social Enterprise?

So I'm coming up on two months post graduation from an MPH/MBA dual degree. I'm not going to lie- I've definitely had my moments where I've wondered how I was really going to put both of these degrees to full use in the time to come. As most periods of unemployment are, this has been a time of self-discovery and doubt, a tedious attempt to try to explore all the avenues I could potentially start walking down. The process has been disheartening at times- I don't always see the light, that I know is out there, at the end of the tunnel.

But a few days ago, during one of my many internet searches, I discovered an organization that has shaken me into the realization that I am indeed on the right path. Vestergaard-Frandsen is a Swiss-based, social enterprise with a unique business model- they create and provide disease control textiles to vulnerable populations during humanitarian emergencies all over the world, reinvesting a significant portion of their profits into new research and development activities. Some of their big successes have been:

• ZeroFly, a plastic sheet that acts as a long-lasting insecticide against malaria and other vector-borne diseases, while simultaneously providing shelter
• PermaNet, long-lasting insecticidal nets protecting against malaria, some with improved bioefficacy against pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors
  
• LifeStraw, a portable water filter in individual and family sizes to protect against common diarrhoel disease
  
• CarePack, a package designed to improve the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS that includes a long-lasting insecticidal net,an instant microbiological water purifier, condoms, a broad spectrum antibiotic and printed educational materials about malaria, other vector-borne diseases, diarrhoea , and sexually transmitted diseases

So it is possible to make money AND do good- world, are you listening?!

Watch LifeStraw at work in Haiti, after the recent earthquake:



Watch CarePack launch a massive social media campaign:



Vestergaard-Frandsen has kept me up really late tonight- I can't stop thinking about the possibilities in this arena. I'm hoping there are many more of you out there, as excited as I am!!

Hilary- 1; Women's Reproductive Health- 100

I'm returning from a brief hiatus from making posts on this blog, but definitely with renewed interest. Much has transpired in the past couple of weeks, but today it became clear to me that I needed to use my blog to spread the word about a fact, that although up until now I believed was undoubtedly true, many Americans have been questioning- reproductive health does in fact include access to family planning and abortion services. Wow--that is genius! Should I be surprised that it took Hilary Clinton to confirm this?

Watch her give a passionate, spur-of-the-moment response on the subject as the House of Representatives moved to end all federal funding for Planned Parenthood.



We need more women to stand up for this cause and do like she did. She took 1 hit for the 100's of American women who deserve to receive affordable, high-quality and easy access to reproductive health care- yes, contraception and abortion included!