ORPHAN MEDICAL NETWORK INTERNATIONAL

OMNI completed its 24th year in Zambia, Africa with the education of over 350 children at our school in grades 1 through 9. Each child was provided with a uniform, shoes, sweaters, backpack, school supplies, and chemically treated anti-malaria nets. Malaria remained a constant threat to the people of Zambia. The school children and staff were fed daily and received clean drinking water. The school continued to provide personal protection items, good hygiene protocols, and provided chlorine each month for the water supply. Sanitary products were provided monthly for every girl who needed them, and age-appropriate girls were vaccinated for cervical cancer. All students also had their vision and eye wellness evaluated. The school continued to be a beacon of hope for the Village of George. Forty-five first graders were admitted to school in 2024, our largest class ever. Twenty boys and twenty-five girls were provided with the opportunity of a quality education. All students passed the first grade through the sixth grade, with 75% passing seventh grade and 60% passing 9th grade. OMNI employed 11 teachers along with an additional five teachers provided by the Government of Zambia showing their support of our program. In addition, OMNI provided employment to 10 other workers including the director, cooks, security workers, and property maintenance. The 2024 school year had a government mandated, delayed start due to the cholera endemic. Due to our concern about the children's nutritional needs being met during the extended break, the OMNI Board of Directors approved the use of general funds for additional food supplementation during this period. We also increased the number of school children families receiving food each month from 50 to 83 families. The regional drought impacted Zambia for the past two years causing food shortages and dramatic food price increases as well as water shortages. OMNI continued to provide fresh vegetables with our on-campus crops, laying hens for eggs, and fresh clean water from two bore holes. In 2024 we were able to add another 200 layers and another chicken coop for a total of 400 layers in order to provide more eggs and food by alternating the layers, and we increased crop production in some of our undeveloped land. This was a vital element as the ongoing drought was leaving many families in the area with no access to water and the inability to grow small gardens for their food. Due to the vast power shedding in Zambia, solar panels were of great importance. OMNI installed solar panels for the bore hole pumps and for electricity to operate the computers and other school needs. We also purchased a water storage tank and a brick making machine to be used for construction projects. We also dug one bore hole deeper - from 30 meters to 50 meters - to improve the water supply. In an effort to provide added security for our students and to retain control of OMNI's property, it was highly recommended that a six-foot brick wall be built enclosing OMNI's 40 acres. Due to the urgent need, the Board of Directors approved the construction of the wall, and the required funding was pledged by four donors. The wall construction was completed in February, and to it was added barbed wire and two gates. A graduation ceremony was held at the end of the calendar year in Zambia for both the 7th and 9th graders and was heavily attended by the parents of the students, local dignitaries, and Rotary members in Zambia.