136 countries we ship to . Yet despite this we are doing it on less than 2 % overhead . We focus on running Project Cure with the utmost fluidity and attention to detail . Because of this Forbes has ranked us top 20 charities , we are Guidestar Platinum , and have four stars on Charity Navigator .
Q : What is your favorite project Project Cure has been involved with ?
A : We just finished up a project called Saving Mothers Giving Life . There are five partners : USA ID , Merch for Mothers , ACOG , Christy Turlington , who is a super model that runs a program called Every Mother Counts , and us at Project Cure . We each play a different role that made it possible . We set out in four districts in Uganda and four districts in Zambia to reduce maternal mortality in childbirth by 50 % all in the time span of five years . Many said it was impossible , but that did not deter us at all . In comparison , Houston ’ s maternal mortality rate in childbirth is about six per 100,000 . While in the areas we worked in , this number was around 600 deaths per 100,000 .
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These pregnant mothers that go into a clinic are gambling with their lives doing something that is celebrated as a blessing in the United States . In the first year we were able to reduce it by 30 %. Now we are five years on and set to wrap up in december having expanded to nigeria and reducing the maternal mortality rate by nearly 60 %. We can now take everything we have learned and apply it to other countries as a guideline to success . Going into communities with literally nothing , there were doctors who would run out to our arriving containers to grab supplies because its needed for an operation . In the face of unfavorable odds , Project Cure along with its partners on the operation were able to save the lives of many mothers and leave lasting improvement to the communities as a whole .
Q : Where do you plan to go from here ?
A : We are increasing our footprint of collectable medical supplies . We plan to expand to Dallas and start a Project Cure there . We are in conversation with MedLine about moving into Los Angeles while also looking at Central Michigan and Central Florida . We want to put these warehouses together so we are collecting as much as possible from all over the United States . All of these are donated from everyday people , manufacturers , and hospitals . When you break your leg , what do you do with the crutches after you have healed ? They are sitting in the garage . Give them to us !
It was an absolute pleasure having the opportunity to interview and converse with Dr . Jackson . He has numerous stories about Project Cure and the amazing work they do around the globe . From its origin story to how it has exploded into a massive nonprofit leading the industry in humanitarian support displays that the kind heart of a few can warm the hearts of millions . The huge volume of supplies sent combined with the education and management their partners provide on their large projects creates a dynamic perfect for improving communities in desperate need of medical treatment and education .