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www.groovekorea.com / November 2014 86 Edited by Jenny Na (jenny@groovekorea.com) COMMuNITy S cientist Enusa Ramani has traveled the world in search of ways to combat diseases in developing na- tions. Growing up in Ghana, he saw the effects on communities firsthand. “My community did not have the ability to deal with many health problems,” he says. “All my life I’ve been looking for a platform from which I can network and collaborate with like-minded scientists to find effective, safe and affordable solutions to the diseases of the less privi- leged in the world.” His search brought him to Seoul, where he became in- volved with the International Vac- cine Institute. IVI was created as an initiative of the United Nations Development Program, and 17 years later, it is an independent nonprofit that works in more than 20 countries worldwide. Its headquarters are nestled in a four-story building on Seoul Na- tional University’s campus, which houses the state-of-the-art lab- oratory facilities that power IVI’s work. There, Ramani works with scientists from around the world, with many from developing coun- tries. “IVI echoed my life objective and that’s why I am here today doing what I am doing, helping save lives of children in the develop- ing countries of the world,” he said. IVI was founded on the belief that the health of children in devel- oping countries can be dramatically improved by the introduction of new and improved vaccines, and that these vaccines should be de- veloped through dynamic interaction among science, public health and industry. When the time came for the U.N. to select a host country for the project, Korea won the bid based on its thriving economy, an emerg- ing science and technology infrastructure and a strong commitment from the government to support IVI. The government provides a portion of IVI’s annual operating budget and donated its headquar- ters complex. Korean-American Deborah Hong, the head of communications and advocacy, feels that educating the public about these diseases is a vital part of what the organization does. “In the developed world, many have forgotten the days when whooping cough, polio and measles were deadly illnesses. This is thankfully because of vaccination,” she says. “The poor people we serve do not have the luxury to choose between receiv- ing a vaccine or going without it.” The development and licensure of an oral cholera vaccine named Sanchol, approved for use by the World Health Organization, is one of IVI’s most significant, ground- breaking contributions to global health. Cholera is a bacterial disease usually spread through contaminated water. It causes severe diarrhea and dehydration, and if left untreated can be fatal. While one of the most effective ways to prevent and control chol- era is improving the provision of sanitation and clean water, these are long-term interventions that require political will and resources that many developing countries are unable to commit. “Many say people just need clean water,” says communications associate Margaret Thomas. “But how many outbreaks will kill hun- dreds of people before clean water can be provided?” Vaccination, on the other hand, is a less costly and more feasible intervention that quickly yields results. IVI’s vaccine has been admin- Story by Megan Fox / Photos courtesy of IVI COMBATiNg DisEAsE, ONE vACCiNE AT A TiME IVI develops vaccines for impoverished people in developing nations