MAP International

MAP International is a global Christian health and relief organization. They carry out work in the broad programmatic areas of community health development, disease prevention and eradication, relief and rehabilitation and global health advocacy.

History

Establishment

MAP International was founded as Medical Assistance Programs International, an organization that provides medical supplies abroad, encourages community health development, prevents disease, and responds to disasters, was founded in 1954 by J. Raymond Knighton, the first Executive director of the Christian Medical and Dental Society (CMDS). MAP International is a member of Integral, an international cooperation of 19 Christian aid organizations. MAP International's first project was to supply Shering Corporation and Eli Lilly's donation of 11 tons of medicines abroad in developing areas.

Disaster relief

Since then, MAP International has instituted numerous projects including but not limited to emergency relief efforts after Typhoon Gloria in Taiwan, civilian casualties in Panama, the fall of the Soviet Union, Hurricane Mitch in Honduras, the fall of the Taliban, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the 2015 Nepal earthquake, the 2016 Ecuador earthquake, and Zika relief in Latin America. MAP International also started Fellowship programs to train medical students, opened offices in developing areas such as Ecuador, Kenya, and West Africa, and donated billions of dollars in medicines and supplies to people in need.

Credibility and California Lawsuit

Forbes, Inc. recognizes MAP International as the #37 Largest U.S. Charity.[1] BBB lists MAP International as an accredited charity, meaning it meets the standards in terms of governance, measuring effectiveness, finances, and fund raising and information.[2] CNBC named MAP International #2 on their list of Top-Ten Charities Changing the World in 2015. Popline points out that some health workers have biases against working with faith-based programs, but that the merits of the MAP International program should dispel these biases. It also discusses the financial benefits of FBOs in relation to “their ability to leverage volunteer work with minimal effort.[3]”

On March 12, 2008, the California Attorney General filed a Cease and Desist Order against MAP International, along with a Notice of Revocation of Charity Registration and a Notice of Assessment of Penalties. The Attorney General's order alleged that MAP International committed fraud in declaring the value of donated pharmaceuticals. According to the complaint, MAP received donated pharmaceuticals (often near their expiration date) from various pharmaceutical companies, which MAP International made available, often through intermediaries such as Food for the Poor, to various relief agencies outside of the United States. These pharmaceuticals, the order claimed, were either expressly prohibited from use in the United States or were understood to be restricted to non-US use. The order stated that under the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), "charities can only claim 'fair market value' of gifts in kind" in a "principal market" or "most advantageous market," to which the charity must have access in valuing the asset (in this case, the pharmaceuticals). The Attorney General's order alleged that MAP International claimed the US value of the pharmaceuticals, rather than their value in the countries to which they were destined, even though the drugs were restricted from use in the US. (For example, the order relates that in 2015, MAP facilitated a donation of drugs to Guatemala, in which "MAP valued the pharmaceutical Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate at $2.48 million, using the U.S. price. The true fair market value was less than $119,000, using the appropriate international price.") [4]

On April 11th, 2018, MAP filed an appeal of the California Attorney General's order. A hearing was held on December 11, 2018. On September 20th, 2019, the Attorney General's office announced that it had secured a Cease and Desist Order and over $1 million in penalties against MAP International, Food for the Poor, and CMMB (Catholic Medical Mission Board), for deceptive solicitation tactics.[5]

Due to this ongoing legal action, Charity Navigator no longer provides a rating for MAP International; instead its page for MAP declares that Charity Navigator has issued a "Moderate Concern CN Advisory" and includes a (pre-judgment) statement from MAP challenging the charges. [6]

Current projects

Disaster relief

MAP International works to respond to both natural and conflict related emergencies. MAP International provides medical relief shipments to those in need and monitors the health of those in need, if an emergency occurs in a country MAP International has instituted a country presence it implements a country office response in which MAP International staff mobilize to provide health care, and utilizes community based disaster mitigation to train community members to manage the effects of the disaster and promote health in the wake of the disaster on a long-term scale.[7] Current MAP International disaster relief programs include Typhoon Haiyan: Philippines, Cyclone Phailin, Oklahoma Tornado, and Syrian Refugee relief. MAP International has responded to Typhoon Haiyan by shipping $4.2 million in medicines and supplies, and is still in the process of responding by providing emergency health care kits to victims. MAP International recognizes its partners for their integral role in efficiently distributing donated medicines and supplies, and states the difficulties they have encountered in getting the medicines to the victims. For example, all of the medicine shipments in Leyte Island were washed away when the typhoon hit that area.[8] In response to the detrimental effects of Cyclone Phailin, MAP International is providing India with temporary shelter structures, food, medicine, and cooking utensils.[9] MAP International has responded to the Oklahoma Tornado by donating over $127,000 of supplies to their partner, Convoy of Hope, in Oklahoma.[10] The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation also mentions MAP International's affiliation with Abbott in response to the tornado.[11] In response to the civil war in Syria, MAP International has sent two shipments to refugees, and is still responding by preparing a third shipment to send when sufficient funding is acquired.[12] The Saporta Report outlines MAP International's involvement in Syrian Refugee Crisis relief efforts, and briefly describes the cost of these emergency aid kits.[13]

Transformational missions

A program to turn short-term missions into long-term local health programs.[14]

Short-term missions

Medical or non-medical volunteers from the United States help with an existing program in a Total Health Village, assisted by members of MAP International.

Curriculum-based field study

Short-term field study for students integrated into the curriculum of a scholastic establishment for credit within the degree areas of health or international development.

MAP fellowship

Opportunity for fourth year medical students to work during an 8-week program in a MAP-approved hospital or clinic, usually in Kenya, Uganda, Ecuador, Honduras, Bolivia, Indonesia, Liberia, Cote d’Ivore, or Ghana.

Partnership opportunities

Volunteers are educated about a MAP Internal program and work with members of an underserved community to explore ways to collaborate with MAP International programs.

Disaster relief response

Emergency aid teams from the United States respond quickly to help affected communities by implementing disaster management strategies and training community members to sustain these programs on a long-term basis.

Global essential medicines and supplies (GEMS)

MAP International contributes over $250 million inexpensive bought and donated medicines and supplies to philanthropic relief organizations helping underserved communities each year. The medicines provided are from the Essential Drug List (EDL).[15]

Maternal and child health

MAP International has implemented programs in Ecuador, Uganda, Kenya, and Bolivia. These programs focus on a plethora of different topics including perinatal care, training health promoters, preventing sexual abuse, providing rehabilitation for victims of sexual abuse, and education.[16]

Neglected tropical diseases

MAP International has implemented programs in Kenya, Uganda, Ecuador, Honduras, Bolivia, Indonesia, Liberia, Cote d’Ivore, and Ghana to treat and prevent Guinea worm, Buruli ulcer, Leprosy, Yaws, Lymphatic filariasis, Chagas Disease, Soil-transmitted Helminthes, and Rabies. Programs to eradicate these diseases include vaccinations, education, water and sanitation efforts, awareness building, community mobilization, and operations.[17]

Total health village

MAP International has implemented programs in 65 villages throughout Kenya, Uganda, Ecuador, Honduras, Bolivia, Indonesia, Liberia, Cote d’Ivore, and Ghana to encourage and equip underserved communities to come up with their own innovative solutions to the daily challenges they face. This program focuses on local solutions to problems within the cultural context of the community and is designed to give the community command of the improvement plan. Community members take part in many aspects of other current projects listed such as water and sanitation efforts and disease treatment, as well as working to settle conflict, train local health promoters, and facilitate economic security.[14]

Water and sanitation

Water and Sanitation are aspects assimilated into all MAP International programs because of the significant impact they have on preventing disease and promoting other facets of Total Health. Water and Sanitation efforts involve building separate waste and clean drinking structures, providing water filters to communities, and establishing Community Led Total Sanitation programs. MAP International utilizes a sweat equity design to implement Sawyer water filters in underserved communities and implements a small-scale demonstration with the help of a few members in the community before introducing water sanitation efforts on a large-scale throughout the village. Sawyer attests to the integral role MAP International has played in distributing hundreds water filters to communities.[18] Community Led Total Sanitation programs are designed to educate and empower local community members to make their village a more sanitary and healthy environment through education about the negative health effects of drinking unclean water and the importance of separating human waste structures and drinking water structures.[19]

References

1. "MAP International on the Forbes The 100 Largest U.S. Charities List".
2. "Charity Report - MAP International - give.org".
3. E. C. (2003, September 24). Faith-based Organization: Contributions to HIV Prevention. Popline.
4. "California Attorney General Cease and Desist Order" retrieved December 8, 2019
5. "Attorney General Becerra Secures Cease and Desist Orders and Over One Million Dollars in Penalties Against Three Charities for Deceptive Solicitations" retrieved December 8, 2019
6. "Charity Navigator - Rating for MAP International" retrieved December 8, 2019
7. (2013). Global Program Scope. Map International.
8. International, MAP. "MAP International Home - Health & Hope".
9. International, MAP. "MAP International Home - Health & Hope".
10. International, MAP. "MAP International Home - Health & Hope".
11. "(2013). Oklahoma Tornadoes--Current Aid Tracker. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation".
12. International, MAP. "MAP International Home - Health & Hope".
13. "MAP International providing medical relief to Syrian refugees - SaportaReport". 29 April 2013.
14. (2013). Global Program Scope. Map International.
15. International, MAP. "MAP Medical Mission Packs - Medicines for Medical Mission Trips".
16. (2013). Global Program Scope. Map International.
17. (2013). Global Program Scope. Map International.
18. "Kenya - Sawyer International".
19. (2013). Global Program Scope. Map International.