Letters to the editor

Bracelet of Life Supports Hunger

Dozens of worthy organizations that support the increase of funding and research for various diseases have recently adopted a bracelet campaign, the most famous being the "LIVESTRONG" bracelets in support of cancer research. I applaud these organizations and their method of raising awareness to thousands of people across the nation. But I would like to let you all know of a different, lesser-known bracelet that has been in existence since 1998. However, this is more than just a simple bracelet — it is a critical tool used to identify children at risk of starvation.

Doctors Without Borders is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing emergency medical care to individuals in over 80 countries around the world. They created a tool called the "Bracelet of Life," which health workers use to measure the nutritional status of children. The bracelet is placed around the upper arm, and depending on the size, they are categorized into various levels of malnutrition. Too often, individuals are in the "red zone," or suffer from severe malnutrition. Their upper arms are measured at less than 11 centimeters in circumference.

The Bracelet of Life campaign was launched in 1998 to raise awareness in the United States on the famine in Sudan. Since then, thousands of concerned Americans have worn the bracelet and shown its important use to others.

I encourage everyone to pick up a Bracelet of Life on the commons this week and wear it around your wrist in support of raising awareness on malnutrition around the world.

Maggie Ardiente
senior
Vice-President
JMU Freethinkers