Relief worker: Malaria, not Kony, is top threat in Uganda
SEATTLE - The face and voice of a movement to help children in Africa was caught on video naked - apparently in the middle of what appears to be a very public breakdown.
And now African aid workers visiting Seattle insist all the publicity over Jason Russell has been good for awareness, but falls short on how to actually help kids trapped by violence and disease in Uganda.
Russell's film, "Kony 2012," has spread like wildfire over the Internet and brought attention to his group, "Invisible Children."
The documentary is aimed at getting rid of warlord Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord's Resistance Army - a man who has a history of abducting thousands of children and forcing them into slavery. Russell's video exposing Kony has had more than 80 million views.
Now Russell is gaining attention for something else.
He was caught on tape - naked. Neighbors reported him running and ranting through the streets of San Diego.
In a statement his wife insists recent personal attacks took their toll. Critics accused Russell of bending the truth and using funds improperly.
But people who never heard of Joseph Kony before now know his name, thanks to Russell, said Uganda Relief Director Felix Omodi during a visit to Seattle on Friday.
"The video has brought awareness mainly here in the Western world," said Omodi, who works for Medical Teams International, a Christian health organization.
But Omodi says the video falls short.
"It has wakened people who didn't know what the people are going through," he says. "But we did not see what they would want to see happen."
He insists more health care services, community health education and immunizations are what the country needs. He says the biggest threat right now to children is malaria.
"We are taking care of children, 'cause in Uganda a child under 5 doesn't survive a lot. Many children, they die before 5 years."
Omodi says volunteer doctors, nurses and paramedics from Seattle are on the ground in Uganda helping to build health care systems - but more volunteers and funds are needed.
Medical Teams International says peace has returned to many parts of northern Uganda, but more than 80,000 refugees are still living in camps in southern Uganda.
And now African aid workers visiting Seattle insist all the publicity over Jason Russell has been good for awareness, but falls short on how to actually help kids trapped by violence and disease in Uganda.
Russell's film, "Kony 2012," has spread like wildfire over the Internet and brought attention to his group, "Invisible Children."
The documentary is aimed at getting rid of warlord Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord's Resistance Army - a man who has a history of abducting thousands of children and forcing them into slavery. Russell's video exposing Kony has had more than 80 million views.
Now Russell is gaining attention for something else.
He was caught on tape - naked. Neighbors reported him running and ranting through the streets of San Diego.
In a statement his wife insists recent personal attacks took their toll. Critics accused Russell of bending the truth and using funds improperly.
But people who never heard of Joseph Kony before now know his name, thanks to Russell, said Uganda Relief Director Felix Omodi during a visit to Seattle on Friday.
"The video has brought awareness mainly here in the Western world," said Omodi, who works for Medical Teams International, a Christian health organization.
But Omodi says the video falls short.
"It has wakened people who didn't know what the people are going through," he says. "But we did not see what they would want to see happen."
He insists more health care services, community health education and immunizations are what the country needs. He says the biggest threat right now to children is malaria.
"We are taking care of children, 'cause in Uganda a child under 5 doesn't survive a lot. Many children, they die before 5 years."
Omodi says volunteer doctors, nurses and paramedics from Seattle are on the ground in Uganda helping to build health care systems - but more volunteers and funds are needed.
Medical Teams International says peace has returned to many parts of northern Uganda, but more than 80,000 refugees are still living in camps in southern Uganda.
