The campaign “Semaine de la santé maternelle et infantile”...
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
The “Semaine de la santé maternelle et infantile” or SSME has finally come to a close, the visitors have returned home to Canada and we find ourselves once again back in Tana.
We spent a great deal of the past week of the campaign back in the coastal town of Morondava. This time we were able to survey several the distribution sites and watch volunteers from the Croix-Rouge Malagasy in the midst of their work distributing nets and supporting the campaign. A distribution site is, in fact, quite an interesting sensory experience. Upon first approach the sight of an apparent mass of people either sitting, standing, or leaning, but all waiting with several small children in tow, paired with the desperate cries of some of the children being poked with painful but necessary immunizations, in concert with the pervasive searing midday Morondava heat can be quite overwhelming.
Yet, as the initial shock dissipates it is easy to see that most of the sites were working as well oiled machines, or as it was put by another “organized chaos”. Generally the sites would function as follows: a parent or guardian called by number, the accompanying children would be immunized and given a vitamin supplement, and then they would be handed an insecticide-treated net or ITN. Most children would leave the site wiping leftover tears from their eyes while proudly balancing their new net on their heads. It was a gratifying thing to see.
During one of the site visits we also had the opportunity to go with a mother to her home to observe a net being hung. On the way the mother explained that she had four kids, a boy, a girl and a pair of twins, she then revealed that she was 24 years old, only a year older than I. I wondered what I would do in her situation, being so young, with so many children, so few resources, and the constant looming fear of malaria. I then thought of my own mother, of how much she sometimes worries for her children, which led me to ponder how one could ever possibly deal with such a preventable illness affecting their daily lives and loved ones so pervasively.
When I returned to the site a little distressed by my personal discovery but in awe of that woman’s resilience it was explained to me that malaria, like many other illnesses affects not only the family, but, the community as a whole. Indeed the loss of someone close is horrific, but, malaria often also threatens the economic viability of an entire region. Those affected by malaria understandably cannot partake in wage earning activities, and are subsequently unable to provide for themselves or any dependants. A region filled with people suffering from malaria can, as a consequence, become completely debilitated.
Of course, when I first joined the campaign understood that ITNs were essential, but, the experience of the past week has truly personified the campaign and emphasized the great value of the nets to many Malagasy people. Overall it’s been a greatly enriching time that I will not soon forget. I am hopeful that the nets will serve their purpose and will protect vulnerable families and communities in the approaching rainy season, when, due to a great resurgence of mosquitoes, they are needed the most.
Posted for Mandy LaRiche
The “Semaine de la santé maternelle et infantile” or SSME has finally come to a close, the visitors have returned home to Canada and we find ourselves once again back in Tana.
We spent a great deal of the past week of the campaign back in the coastal town of Morondava. This time we were able to survey several the distribution sites and watch volunteers from the Croix-Rouge Malagasy in the midst of their work distributing nets and supporting the campaign. A distribution site is, in fact, quite an interesting sensory experience. Upon first approach the sight of an apparent mass of people either sitting, standing, or leaning, but all waiting with several small children in tow, paired with the desperate cries of some of the children being poked with painful but necessary immunizations, in concert with the pervasive searing midday Morondava heat can be quite overwhelming.
Yet, as the initial shock dissipates it is easy to see that most of the sites were working as well oiled machines, or as it was put by another “organized chaos”. Generally the sites would function as follows: a parent or guardian called by number, the accompanying children would be immunized and given a vitamin supplement, and then they would be handed an insecticide-treated net or ITN. Most children would leave the site wiping leftover tears from their eyes while proudly balancing their new net on their heads. It was a gratifying thing to see.
During one of the site visits we also had the opportunity to go with a mother to her home to observe a net being hung. On the way the mother explained that she had four kids, a boy, a girl and a pair of twins, she then revealed that she was 24 years old, only a year older than I. I wondered what I would do in her situation, being so young, with so many children, so few resources, and the constant looming fear of malaria. I then thought of my own mother, of how much she sometimes worries for her children, which led me to ponder how one could ever possibly deal with such a preventable illness affecting their daily lives and loved ones so pervasively.
When I returned to the site a little distressed by my personal discovery but in awe of that woman’s resilience it was explained to me that malaria, like many other illnesses affects not only the family, but, the community as a whole. Indeed the loss of someone close is horrific, but, malaria often also threatens the economic viability of an entire region. Those affected by malaria understandably cannot partake in wage earning activities, and are subsequently unable to provide for themselves or any dependants. A region filled with people suffering from malaria can, as a consequence, become completely debilitated.
Of course, when I first joined the campaign understood that ITNs were essential, but, the experience of the past week has truly personified the campaign and emphasized the great value of the nets to many Malagasy people. Overall it’s been a greatly enriching time that I will not soon forget. I am hopeful that the nets will serve their purpose and will protect vulnerable families and communities in the approaching rainy season, when, due to a great resurgence of mosquitoes, they are needed the most.
Posted for Mandy LaRiche
posted by Alison Frehlich at 12:06 PM
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