Goodbye Burundi -- It's been a blast!

April 11, 2010
I returned to Canada yesterday after an exciting nine days in Burundi. It was an experience I'll never forget! Sylvie and I departed on Friday after spending the morning at the Burundi Red Cross office. We said our farewells to the staff with promises to keep in touch.

As I said goodbye to a Burundi staff member named Joseph he said something that I found very meaningful. "We work for a unique organization," he commented. "Even though we have just met, I can't help but feel that we are all brothers and sisters no matter what country we come from, because we are coming from the Red Cross."

Although I am back in Canada, I'm am happy to know that the fight against malaria in Burundi will carry on. Tomorrow, the hang-up campaign begins to ensure nets are properly used. Also, the Burundi Red Cross will continue to do it's great work to further train volunteers about malaria and work with communities to help prevent it. Many of the tools created for this campaign will be put to good use beyond this campaign such as the CD with songs that teach valuable malaria tips.

Best of luck Burundi!

The final few nets

April 8, 2010
Today was the final net distribution day in Burundi. With the exception of a few sites that will remain open tomorrow to ensure all nets are received, this portion of the campaign is over.

On the final day we visited a few more distribution sites. Many had begun to slow down, indicating that the families in that area have all received their nets. As we drove around, I couldn't help but notice the many people walking along the street with nets. We saw nets in baskets, arms and balanced on heads. We also saw nets hanging on clothes lines in the shade to air out before being placed over sleeping spaces, an indication of the strong communication activities of Burundi Red Cross volunteers.

After a long four days of work, the Red Cross team that worked on the campaign met for a final meeting and celebratory dinner. This dinner included mostly Burundi Red Cross staff members, but also employees from the Canadian Red Cross, Belgium Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and other health partners in Burundi.

Dr. Jessie Nzenza Kanhutu, the heath and care coordinator for the IFRC's Easter Africa Zone, commented on the dedication of the Burundi Red Cross and the team work shown throughout the distribution.

"This campaign brought together the humanitarian community," she said. "Imagine, all this work and effort to kill a female Anopheles mosquito so that it will not have a chance to hurt male and female humans."

Who knew that killing a mosquito would be cause for celebration, but in a malaria endemic country like Burundi, it certainly is. Cheers to that!

Ever wondered what social moblization is?

April 3, 2010
Today I received a CD from Carmen, the Canadian Red Cross project manager for the net distribution. She indicated it had been made for the campaign. Curious, I popped it into the computer to listen.

The songs are in Kirundi, the local language and were great! I asked Carmen for more details and learned that the six-song disc is part of their social mobilization strategy.

Social mobilization is an integral part of the Canadian Red Cross malaria program. Through both local and larger-scale activities, communities are encouraged to participate in the net campaign. It is important that people know details about the campaign and also its importance.

For this campaign, the Burundi, Belgium and Canadian Red Cross' planned both grassroots and mobilization and promotion on a grander scale. Some activities are already complete, while more will take place after the distribution. With support from international partners, this strategy has already reached thousands of people.

Red Cross volunteers play an important role in this strategy. Early in the project, the conducted a door-to-door census to determine the number of nets needed. This allowed them to not only count people, but spread the word about the campaign. Later, they made a second visit to distribute the vouchers that will be exchanged for nets, providing another opportunity to communicate.

For wider promotion, the CD was produced. Local muscians recorded songs about malaria prevention to bring attention to the campaign and provide valuable information. All radio stations in the area have the disc and are encouraged to play the songs.

Other activities included creating t-shirts, hats, posters and banners to increase campaign visibility. A radio public service announcement was also created, and the communications officer for the Belgium Red Cross noted that she'd heard it being played this morning on her drive the office.

The campaign kicks off tomorrow with an event where media is expected to attend, which will help reach even more people. When the distribution has ended, the final step is the hang-up campaign, where volunteers go door-to-door to ensure proper net usage.

Day 1 – Burundi Red Cross volunteers

April 2, 2010

Today was my first full day in Bujumbura, the capital city of Burundi. My colleague Sylvie and I arrived late last night so it wasn’t until this morning that I got my first glimpse of Burundi.

Bujumbura is a lively city, lush and green with traffic moving in orderly chaos. Our first stop was the Burundi Red Cross office. It is a simple, white building with Burundi Red Cross Land Cruisers parked in its lot. The staff and volunteers greeted us with smiles and handshakes giving an overall welcoming feeling.

Later in the morning I left Sylvie behind to iron out logistical and planning details with our project manager Carmen, while I joined three Burundi Red Cross workers, along with two communications officers from the Belgium Red Cross for a field visit. Wearing my Canadian Red Cross shirt with my camera charged and ready, we made our way to two villages where Burundi Red Cross volunteers were going door-to door to deliver vouchers to households. These vouchers will be exchanged during our net campaign, which runs April 5-8.

I’ve always known the value of local Red Cross volunteers, but it was inspiring to see this first-hand. They speak the local languages and their relationship with beneficiaries was clearly comfortable and friendly. They explained the importance of using a net and information regarding the upcoming distribution.

The second village visit was cut short due to heavy rainfall, but the drive there was breathtaking. The village was located in an area called Mubimbi, and was nestled in the mountains. We arrived just in time for the downpour and immediately noticed a volunteer huddled beneath an overhanging roof, waiting for the rain to subside. A second volunteer, bundled up in a rain coat with a Red Cross umbrella, continued to make his way through the town, despite the rain and mud.

Day one is nearing its end and I am pleased to have witnessed smiling people receiving their vouchers – assurance that soon they will receive life-saving nets and sleep protected from malaria.

The Big Day

March 29, 2010
Tomorrow is the big day – my colleague Sylvie Zangger, program officer for the Canadian Red Cross malaria program, and I will board our plane and head to Africa – more specifically, to Burundi. The Canadian Red Cross will be distributing over 521,000 life-saving mosquito nets there. This will be my first time participating.

I’ve been working as part of the communications team for Malaria Bites since it launched in 2007, although the Canadian Red Cross malaria program itself has been doing great work since 2003. I’m thrilled that I’ll be able to see first-hand how our work is making a difference in communities in Africa. The Canadian Red Cross malaria program has distributed over 6 million nets in Africa so far, and trained over 25,000 African Red Cross volunteers, thanks to the generosity of Canadians.

For this campaign, a big thank you must also go out to the Belgium Red Cross, whose funding has allowed this distribution to be as large and far-reaching as it is.

I can’t wait to get there and share my experiences with all you!

The campaign starts amid great enthusiasm

December 10, 2008

Hundreds of children with their mothers wait patiently to receive their free mosquito nets. It has been a long wait since they got their vaccinations earlier in the morning. On this first day of net distributions our Red Cross team is visiting several community health centers in Ikom, Nde and Emangebe to see for ourselves the exemplary work of the local Red Cross and Health Ministry volunteers during this campaign against malaria.

On this occasion, distinguished visitors from the Canadian Red Cross are with us. They are Ted Tanaka, vice-chairman of the Board of directors, and Chris Rosene, director of development programs for the Canadian Red Cross.

The enthusiasm of the mothers and their toddlers is tangible. Though the health centers opened only at 8 am, many were on site by 6. On a backdrop of crying children, all went very well. Registration, vaccinations, vitamin A and mosquito net distributions, the latter being the obvious the highlight of the day. Those children who had not appreciated receiving a shot were suddenly smiling upon being given the small blue bag.

There were children everywhere. On our way, we mistakenly ended up in a primary school. We were immediately swamped with schoolchildren, and to his great surprise and the immense pleasure of the children, Ted Tanaka was surrounded with little ones. Their teacher confided that this impromptu visit will be a long-lasting memory for them.

Une première journée de campagne sous le signe de l’enthousiasme

Le 10 décembre 2008
Des centaines d’enfants accompagnés de leur maman attendent patiemment de recevoir gratuitement leur moustiquaire. L’attente est sans aucun doute longue depuis les vaccins reçus plus tôt dans la matinée. Lors de la première journée de la campagne de distribution de moustiquaires, l’équipe de la Croix-Rouge canadienne s’est rendue dans plusieurs centres de santé communautaire de Ikom, Nde, et Emangebe, afin de constater de visu le travail exemplaire des bénévoles de la Croix-Rouge locale et du ministère de la Santé, dans le cadre de la campagne de prévention contre la malaria.

À cette occasion, deux invités de marque de la Croix-Rouge canadienne nous accompagnaient : Ted Tanaka, vice-président, Conseil des gouverneurs, et Chris Rosene, directeur, Programmes de développement.

L’enthousiasme des mamans et des tout-petits était palpable. Les centres n’ouvraient qu’à 8 h, mais plusieurs personnes étaient sur place dès 6 h. Avec pour musique de fond des pleurs d’enfants, tout s’est bien déroulé, que ce soit au niveau de l’enregistrement, des vaccinations, de la distribution de suppléments de vitamine A, ou de la remise des moustiquaires qui fut sans aucun doute la pièce maîtresse de la journée. Les enfants qui n’avaient vraiment pas apprécié la piqûre du vaccin retrouvaient soudainement leur sourire lorsqu’ils recevaient le petit sac bleu.

Il y avait des enfants partout. Sur notre route, nous nous sommes arrêtés par erreur dans une école primaire. À notre arrivée, nous avons été littéralement envahis par une meute d’enfants qui ont encerclé Ted Tanaka à sa grande surprise, mais surtout au plaisir des jeunes écoliers. Le professeur nous confiait que cette visite impromptue resterait longtemps dans la mémoire des enfants.
Posted for France Hurtubise

Une visite au Ranch Obudu : à couper le souffle!

Je reviens à Calabar après un voyage énergisant de quatre jours à Obudu, une des 18 régions administratives de l’état de Cross-River, au Nigéria.

J’ai assisté à la formation de bénévoles, et je les ai suivis alors qu’ils faisaient du porte-à-porte dans leur collectivité, afin d’informer les familles de la tenue prochaine de la campagne.

Puis, j’ai également passé un après-midi mémorable au Ranch Obudu. Ce fut sans aucun doute le moment le plus spectaculaire de toute ma mission. Mes collègues à Calabar m’avaient dit que c’était à voir absolument et je dois dire que je n’ai pas été déçue!

Cet endroit était à l’origine la résidence d’éleveurs écossais qui avaient construit le Ranch dans les années 1950 et y avaient vécu jusque dans les années 1970. Plusieurs années après leur départ, le Ranch a été rénové et est devenu un lieu de vacances luxueux perché sur une montagne à 1 576 m d’altitude.

Les distances au Nigéria sont immenses. Le pays est presque aussi grand que la Colombie-Britannique – avec 140 millions d’habitants, il est le pays le plus peuplé d’Afrique. En tant que Canadienne, je devrais être habituée aux longs parcours, mais non. Lorsque Bassey et Regina, mes collègues de la Croix-Rouge du Nigéria, et moi avons quitté la ville d’Obudu pour nous rendre au Ranch, je croyais vraiment que ce serait très court, mais après 45 minutes de route dans la montagne, je ne voyais toujours pas le Ranch. Finalement, 60 kilomètres plus loin, nous sommes arrivés à l’imposante barrière du Ranch.

Le pamphlet disait : « Ce lieu jouit d’un climat tempéré frais; il y règne une tranquillité idyllique, un paysage magnifique et des vues à couper le souffle ». Je n’aurais pu dire mieux.

Alors que Bassey parcourait les 11 kilomètres qui séparaient la barrière de l’hôtel, je ne pouvais m’arrêter d’admirer le paysage unique empreint de beauté et de paix. Le climat tempéré était une vraie bénédiction après des journées passées dans la chaleur tropicale.

Pendant que j’admirais le paysage, Bassey n’en avait que pour le funiculaire. Non seulement a-t-il insisté pour que nous soyons pris en photo devant le funiculaire, mais il voulait que le funiculaire apparaisse sur chaque photo que l’on prenait de lui!

A visit to Obudu Cattle Ranch - A breathtaking experience

I have just returned to Calabar after a four-day energizing journey in Obudu, one of 18 Local Government Areas of Cross-River State.

I attended volunteer trainings and joined them while they were going from door-to-door in their communities to inform families about the upcoming campaign.

I also spent an afternoon at Obudu Cattle Ranch. It had to be the most spectacular part of my journey. I had heard from colleagues in Calabar that it was a must-see and I have to say I was not disappointed.

The place was originally the living quarters of enterprising and expatriate Scottish ranchers who built the Obudu Cattle Ranch in the ‘50s and lived there until the early ‘70s. Several years after their departure, it was renovated and it is now a luxury resort perched on a mountain at an elevation of 1,576 metres above sea level.

Distances in Nigeria are huge. The country is almost the same size as British Columbia - though with 140 million people, it is the most populated country in Africa. As a Canadian, I should be used to long distances, but I assumed otherwise. When Bassey and Regina, my colleagues from the Nigerian Red Cross, and I, left Obudu town for Obudu Cattle Ranch, I honestly thought it would be a short trip, but after 45 minutes and lots of mountains surrounding us, I still could not see the ranch. Finally, after 60km and one hour’s drive, we arrived at the impressive gate.

The information sheet stated, “The resort enjoys a cool temperate climate; it is an area of idyllic tranquility, beautiful scenery and breathtaking views”. I could have not said it in a better way.

As Bassey drove up to the ranch over a distance of 11 kilometers, I could not stop looking at the unique scenery with its concealed beauty and peace. Its cool temperate climate was a real blessing after the tropical heat of the past days.

While I was looking at the scenery, Bassey thought the most appealing feature was the cable car. Not only did he insist on having a picture taken in front of it, he wanted to see the cable car in the background of all the pictures taken of him.

Posted for France Hurtubise

Postcard from somewhere between Lomé (Togo) and Calabar (Nigeria)

Sunday, November 23, 2008
After almost 12 hours on planes and in airports, I am about to land in Calabar, in southeastern Nigeria. It sounds and feels like a long time, especially in view of the fact that I never left the African continent. My journey started in Lomé at six in the morning, heading first to Accra (Ghana), then from Accra to Lagos (Nigeria), and finally from Lagos to Calabar.

In fact, I spent most of that time waiting rather than actually moving. However, when traveling alone, I try to make the best use of my time by either reading a great book, maybe finishing that overdue story for the Canadian Red Cross or, why not, meeting interesting people.

While in line for immigration procedures, I had a chat with an American citizen who’s doing business in the oil industry. We had an interesting exchange about the ups and downs of the world economy. There was also a woman from Guinea, Carla, a pharmacist who wants to change the world. We discussed the Red Cross malaria integrated campaign in Togo and Nigeria, and more specifically the health effects of malaria on children and the dream to see a vaccine in the future. The downside of meeting people in airports is probably the lack of time to know them better, but then you can’t have it all.

Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, will be my Nigerian home for the next three weeks. My first impression of Calabar ? Very good ! For one, my new Red Cross friends, Canadians Doug and Carmen and Nigerians Bassey and Chuma were waiting for me at the airport. Of the many towns and cities I visited on the African continent, Calabar must be one of the cleanest. Prior to arriving in the country, I had read a blog from a local university student who was saying how very proud she was of the environment she lived in. In fact, everywhere in the city I can see signs ‘Keep Calabar beautiful’. I‘ll do my best.

Carte postale de quelque part entre Lomé (Togo) et Calabar (Nigéria)
Dimanche 23 novembre 2008
Après presque 12 heures passées dans des avions et des aéroports, je suis sur le point d’atterrir au Calabar, au sud-est du Nigéria. Ce voyage semble long, surtout lorsqu’on sait que je n’ai même pas quitté le continent africain. Mon voyage a débuté à Lomé à six heures du matin : je suis allée premièrement à Accra (Ghana), ensuite d’Accra à Lagos (Nigéria) et finalement de Lagos à Calabar.

En fait, j’ai passé plus de temps à attendre qu’à voyager. Cependant, lorsque je voyage seule, j’essaie de faire bon usage de mon temps en lisant un bon livre, en finissant un article en retard pour la Croix-Rouge canadienne ou, pourquoi pas, en rencontrant des gens intéressants.

Pendant que j’attendais pour régler les formalités d’immigration, j’ai bavardé avec un citoyen américain qui travaille dans l’industrie pétrolière. Nous avons eu un échange intéressant au sujet des hauts et des bas de la conjoncture économique mondiale. Il y avait aussi une Guinéenne, Carla, une pharmacienne qui veut changer le monde. Nous avons discuté de la campagne intégrée de lutte contre la malaria que mène la Croix-Rouge canadienne au Togo et au Nigéria, et plus particulièrement des effets de la malaria sur la santé chez les enfants et du rêve de voir la découverte d’un vaccin. L’inconvénient des rencontres faites dans les aéroports est probablement le manque de temps afin de mieux connaître les gens, mais on ne peut pas tout avoir.

Je m’installe à Calabar, la capitale de l’État de Cross River, pour les trois prochaines semaines. Ma première impression de Calabar? Très bonne! Premièrement, mes nouveaux amis de la Croix-Rouge, les Canadiens Doug et Carmen et les Nigérians Bassey et Chuma, m’attendaient à l’aéroport. Des nombreuses villes que j’ai visitées sur le continent africain, Calabar est sans doute l’une des plus propres. Avant d’arriver au pays, j’avais lu un blogue d’une étudiante universitaire de la région qui disait comment elle était fière de l’environnement dans lequel elle vivait. En effet, dans toute la ville, je vois des enseignes sur lesquelles est écrit « Gardez Calabar belle! ». Je ferai de mon mieux.

Posted for France Hurtubise

Mosquito nets will soon be on their way to every district in the country

Lomé, November 12, 2008

Time flies! The office is like a bee’s nest where every one is busy as can be. For the last week, that is since my arrival here, we have been in an emergency situation. The long-lasting insecticide-treated nets bound for every part of the country arrived at the beginning of this month in the port of Lomé. The first step is to ensure that a small quantity be sent in time to the Central and Plateaux regions for a volunteer training session scheduled for November 17. Then, 8,438 bundles of 100 mosquito nets each will be dispatched to every region for their distribution in December.

This touchy operation requires good logistics and a procedure that is both minute and precise. The transport of close to one million nets is not an easy matter. Today, our small Red Cross team is happy: we have found a carrier for our nets. Gilbert, logistics delegate, Charlie, project manager, and the accountant Diallo, have all been involved since the first day in order not to waste time and to ensure that all is done according to the rules.

One does not always appreciate the challenge raised by such a large-scale humanitarian project. For the record, by the end of the year 2008, the Canadian Red Cross will have helped in the distribution of close to 6.3 million mosquito nets in nine African countries, including 1.4 million in Togo and Nigeria. Through this operation, the Red Cross is in fact a pioneer in the current fight against malaria.

Now that everything seems to be settled, we can start preparing for the official ceremony of transferring the nets from the Togolese Red Cross to the Togo Health Ministry.
This morning, our good Ellie returned home in bad shape. She had malaria fever. This disease is truly a reality throughout Africa. Last week, during the training session, the Director of Health asked participants whether any among them had never had malaria. None raised their hands.

Les moustiquaires prendront bientôt la route vers tous les districts du pays

Lomé, le 12 novembre 2008
Photo - Gilbert Corniglion, Logistics Delegate

Je ne vois pas le temps passer. Le bureau est à l’image d’une petite ruche où tous et chacun s’activent à sa tâche. Depuis maintenant un peu plus d’une semaine, en fait depuis mon arrivée, c’est l’urgence. Les moustiquaires qui seront distribuées partout au pays attendent au port de Lomé depuis le début du mois pour être acheminées. La première étape est de s’assurer qu’une petite quantité soit envoyée à temps vers les régions Centrale et Plateaux pour la formation des bénévoles qui débutera le 17 novembre prochain. Parallèlement, 8 438 ballots de 100 moustiquaires rejoindront tous les districts du pays pour la distribution qui se tiendra en décembre.

Cette délicate opération repose sur une bonne logistique et une procédure précise et détaillée. Transporter près d’un million de moustiquaires n’est pas une

mince affaire. Aujourd’hui notre petite équipe de la Croix-Rouge se réjouissait : un transporteur a été identifié pour cette délicate tâche. Gilbert, délégué logistique, Charlie, gestionnaire de projet, et Diallo, comptable, ont tous mis la main à la pâte dès les premiers jours, afin de non seulement ne pas perdre de temps, mais également de s’assurer que tout soit fait dans les règles de l’art.

On ne réalise pas toujours le défi que représente un projet humanitaire de l’ampleur de celui-ci. À titre de référence, d’ici à fin de l’année 2008, la Croix-Rouge canadienne aura appuyé la distribution de 6,3 millions de moustiquaires dans neuf pays d’Afrique, dont 1,4 million au Togo et au Nigeria. Elle est en fait une pionnière dans le domaine de la prévention de la malaria, par l’entremise de son opération de distribution de moustiquaires.

Maintenant que tout est en marche, nous pouvons organiser la cérémonie officielle de remise des moustiquaires par la Croix-Rouge togolaise au ministère de la Santé.

Ce matin, notre bonne Ellie est arrivée à la maison très mal en point. Elle a attrapé la malaria. Cette maladie est une réalité en Afrique. La semaine dernière lors de la formation, le directeur santé a demandé aux participants s’il y avait parmi eux quelqu’un qui n’avait jamais eu la malaria. Personne n’a levé la main!

Posted for France Hurtubise

Good morning … Africa !

November 6, 2008

As I set foot on the continent, so many memories surge through my mind … the stifling heat, the exciting music, the greenery, and more, all true to the Africa I knew.
And this will be my home for the coming weeks. A large team from the Togo and Nigeria Red Cross, supported by the Canadian Red Cross, are already busy preparing for the launching of the malaria prevention campaigns in Togo, December 9 to 12, and in Nigeria, December 10 to 14.

On the day after my arrival, I am up at 6 am for a visit to the magnificent Plateaux region. We are headed for Atakpame, three hours north of the capital Lomé. A training session is being held for the supervisors of the community health agents who will be involved in the integrated national campaign. They will promote the distribution of vitamin A supplements, parasite control using albendazole, and the supply of insecticide treated mosquito nets for children. I met a dozen volunteers who, in spite of a very tight schedule, found time for a few jokes. They literally brought the floor down! It was also interesting to hear that several of those present had been involved in the first malaria prevention campaign in 2004.

In the afternoon, I was back in Lomé, and this is when the jet lag really hit me. But, after a good night’s sleep, I was back on track the following morning.

Bonjour l’Afrique!

06 novembre 2008

Aussitôt posé le pied en terre africaine, des souvenirs me reviennent en mémoire... chaleur torride, musique entraînante, végétation luxuriante et bien plus encore! Toutes ces images de l’Afrique que j’ai connue.

C’est ici même que je vivrai au cours des prochaines semaines. Toute une équipe de la Croix-Rouge togolaise et de la Croix-Rouge du Nigeria, appuyée par la Croix-Rouge canadienne, s’affaire déjà à mettre en place les préparatifs pour le lancement de la campagne de prévention qui se tiendra au Togo du 9 au 12 décembre, et au Nigeria du 10 au 14 décembre.

Dès ma deuxième journée, j’ai dû me réveiller aux aurores, à 6 h, en direction de la magnifique région des Plateaux. C’est à Atakpame, une ville située à trois heures de route au nord de la capitale, Lomé, que nous avons passé la journée. Il s’y tenait une formation des superviseurs des agents de santé communautaire qui participeront à la campagne nationale intégrée. Dans le cadre de cette campagne, des suppléments de vitamine A, des traitements anthelminthiques à l’albendazole et des moustiquaires imprégnées d’insecticide seront distribués. J’ai rencontré une dizaine de bénévoles qui, malgré un horaire rigoureux, ne manquaient pas d’humour. Certaines remarques ont donné lieu à des fous rires contagieux. Il fut par ailleurs intéressant d’apprendre que plusieurs de ces personnes présentes à la formation avaient participé à la première campagne de prévention contre la malaria en 2004.

De retour à Lomé, en fin d’après-midi, le décalage horaire commençait déjà à faire effet. Mais après une bonne nuit de sommeil, j’étais d’attaque dès le lendemain.

Posted for France Hurtubise - communications delegate Canadian Red Cross

Lomé, August 10, 2008

The power and strength of African women amaze me every day. I see them carry their babies on their backs, walk long distances to bring water or food to their homes, prepare meals for their families, take care of the children, wash their clothes, and clean the house. During the day, thousands of women sell food in the streets, under harsh sunlight, to help support their kin.

I am amazed every time I see African women carrying heavy basins of water, fruits or vegetables on their heads. Since childhood, their neck muscles have been trained to bear such heavy loads. Each one of them is a heroine to me.

They work so hard and carry such a heavy burden! But they do not complain; everything they do for their families and they do it with love. It seems to me that women hold this country and even this continent together. And with their hands they are pushing it forward, making it a better place, day by day.
Posted for: Nathalia Guerrero

Lomé, le 10 août 2008
Chaque jour, je suis éblouie par la force et la puissance des femmes africaines. Elles transportent leurs bébés sur leur dos, marchent sur de longues distances afin de ramener de l’eau ou de la nourriture chez elles, préparent des repas pour leur famille, s’occupent des enfants, lavent des vêtements et nettoient leur maison. Durant la journée, des milliers de femmes vendent de la nourriture dans les rues, sous un soleil de plomb, afin d’aider à soutenir leur famille.

Je suis éblouie chaque fois que je vois des Africaines transportant sur leurs têtes de lourds contenants d’eau, des fruits et des légumes. Depuis l’enfance, les muscles de leur cou ont été entraînés à supporter de lourdes charges. À mes yeux, elles sont toutes des héroïnes.

Elles travaillent très fort et doivent supporter de tels fardeaux! Mais elles ne se plaignent jamais. Tout ce qu’elles font, c’est par amour pour leur famille. Il me semble que ce sont les femmes qui assurent la cohésion de ce pays, voire de ce continent. Ce sont elles qui font bouger les choses afin de créer un monde meilleur, un jour à la fois.

Nathalia Guerrero

Lomé, July 14, 2008

Malaria: To have it, or not to have it…

I recently had malaria for the first time in my life. It all started with a feeling of tiredness, headaches and pains in my muscles and joints. As I had never experienced these symptoms before, I thought they were only the result of intense working hours. However, the symptoms persisted and I decided to take the malaria test. I had all the right symptoms but the result was negative. The following day, I still wasn’t feeling any better so I went to see a doctor. A second test was done and this one proved positive.

I was amazed to learn that you can actually have malaria but get a negative test result. If the concentration of malaria parasites in your blood is not high enough, the test will show a negative result, even though the parasites are present in your bloodstream. The doctor explained to me that the results also depend on the way the blood test is done, so the whole malaria issue is not a black or white matter.

Malaria is a much more complex disease than I had expected and it’s pretty common here during the rainy season. Every year in Togo thousands of people are diagnosed with malaria; it is part of every day life in this country. It is so common that adults rarely go to the doctor when they feel the symptoms and, instead, take the medication right away.

However, it’s a much different case for children because while malaria won’t be lethal for adults most of the time, it can be for them. A kid’s body does not have sufficient immunization and protection to fight off malaria parasites the way an adult’s does.

After being diagnosed with malaria, I took a treatment, got some rest and a few days later I was feeling much better. The symptoms slowly faded and I recovered my energy and strength. Eating well helped hasten my recovery; this is the perfect place to eat tons of fresh fish, high in proteins!

My colleagues from the Togolese Red Cross came to visit me while I was sick and took good care of me. They say that having had malaria for the first time is a very good thing because now I have developed some immunity against it.

I am very pleased to know that my presence in this country is precisely to help protect children against malaria. We are providing free mosquito nets to thousands of children that could not buy one or have access to one in other ways. Thanks to these efforts, families will gain ease from the burden of this terrible disease.
Posted for: Nathalia Guerrero

Lomé, le 14 juillet 2008

La malaria : l’avoir ou ne pas l’avoir…J’ai récemment contracté la malaria pour la première fois de ma vie. Tout a commencé par une sensation de fatigue, des maux de tête et des courbatures. Comme je n’avais jamais ressenti ces symptômes auparavant, j’ai cru qu’ils étaient causés par des heures de travail intenses. Cependant, les symptômes ont persisté ce qui m’a convaincue de faire le test de détection de la malaria. J’avais tous les symptômes, mais le résultat s’est avéré négatif. Le lendemain, je ne me sentais toujours pas mieux alors je suis allé voir le médecin. On m’a fait subir un deuxième test et celui-ci était positif.

J’ai été étonnée d’apprendre que l’on peut bel et bien souffrir de la malaria et quand même avoir un résultat de test négatif. Si la concentration dans le sang de parasites causant la maladie n’est pas assez élevée, le résultat du test sera négatif, même si les parasites sont présents dans le sang. Le médecin m’a expliqué que les résultats dépendent aussi de la façon dont le test est administré, la malaria n’est donc pas une question en noir sur blanc.

La malaria est une maladie beaucoup plus complexe que je ne le croyais et elle est très courante ici durant la saison des pluies. Chaque année, des milliers de personnes au Togo reçoivent un diagnostic de malaria, ce qui en fait donc une partie de la vie quotidienne dans ce pays. Cette maladie est tellement fréquente que les adultes vont rarement chez le médecin lorsqu’ils ressentent les symptômes, ils prennent tout de suite des antipaludiques.

Toutefois, la situation est très différente pour les enfants. Bien que la malaria n’entraine pas habituellement la mort chez les adultes, elle peut être fatale pour un enfant. Le corps d’un enfant ne possède pas une immunisation et une protection suffisante pour combattre les parasites de la malaria comme le corps d’un adulte.

À la suite de mon diagnostic de malaria, j’ai suivi un traitement, je me suis reposée et quelques jours plus tard, je me sentais déjà beaucoup mieux. Les symptômes se sont estompés lentement et j’ai retrouvé mon énergie et mes forces. Une bonne alimentation a permis d’accélérer ma période de rétablissement; c’est l’endroit parfait pour manger des tonnes de poisson frais, une excellente source de protéines!

Mes collègues de la Croix-Rouge du Togo sont venus me visiter, pendant que j’étais malade, et ont bien pris soin de moi. Ils disent que contracter la malaria pour la première fois est une bonne chose, car j’ai maintenant développé une certaine immunité contre la maladie. Je suis ravie de savoir que ma présence dans ce pays sert précisément à protéger les enfants contre la malaria.

Nous distribuons gratuitement des moustiquaires à des milliers d’enfants qui ne pourraient en acheter ou s’en procurer d’une autre façon. Grâce à ces efforts, des familles sont soulagées du fardeau de cette terrible maladie.

Nathalia Guerrero

Lomé, July 7 2008

One of the most captivating aspects of working abroad is being a witness to the world’s precious cultural diversities as well as observing the ways in which reality shapes the ways of living people have around the globe.

I am presently living in Lomé, the capital of Togo. Here, electricity cuts happen daily, sometimes for only a few hours but they can last more than 12. Often, when I come home from work I find there is no electricity in my house. After two months of being here, I have gotten used to lighting candles and now I find the light of a candle much more charming than common lights. I cook with natural gas which is helpful since I don’t need electricity to cook a nice meal.

Not knowing when there will or won’t be electricity, you must always be prepared; any minute you could lose the current for hours and hours. You need to keep everything charged: cell phone, lantern, computer, etc. Your habits change and you hardly notice yourself quickly adapting to this new reality.

The place where I live is called Cartier SousaNetimé and, like any other urban African neighbourhood, it’s pretty noisy most of the time. There’s always loud music playing during the day and late into the night, regardless of what day of the week it is. It seems like these rhythms don’t really bother anyone’s sleep. This must be part of what it means to have music running through your veins.

However, when there is no electricity, quietness fills the streets and allows me to hear the people’s voices. I live on the second floor of a building and from my balcony I see my neighbours gather together around the fire, talking and laughing. I like watching these scenes because I feel that I am observing a timeless practice that has existed as long as human kind.

I consider myself lucky because so far, we have not yet had water shortages. Nonetheless, people in Lomé advise that this is only because we are in the rainy season. I don’t want to think about it yet.

I have learned that we don’t need as much to live as we may sometimes think. Many of the things we believe are essential to us are not necessarily so. They bring comfort and are good to have but aren’t fundamental.

On the other hand, the living conditions here are so challenging and demanding for people. I wish I could do more to make things better and more equal! It really hurts to see the enormous disparities between us but that’s also why we find ourselves here. And I know that we need to remain strong to be able to contribute with our work and hearts toward the improvement of their lives, our lives.
Posted for: Nathalia Guerrero

Lomé, May 7, 2008

I have met the personnel of the Togolese Red Cross with whom I¹ll be working closely during the next eight months.

Dr Battah Kuami, National Health Director for the Togolese Red Cross, will be one of my closest allies for the implementation of the malaria and child survival campaign. He has been involved with the Red Cross for over 16 years and has an amazing deal of knowledge on each region of the country and its particular needs.

In the early nineties, when Dr. Battah was as student of medicine at the University of Lomé, he participated in the foundation of his faculty¹s Club of Friends of the Red Cross. He later became the president of the club, which opened a consultation post where the students provided free medical services to vulnerable populations.

An individual with a great humanitarian vocation, Dr Battah also became a Red Cross First Aid instructor and worked in the front of HIV and AIDS.

In 2005, Dr Battah was engaged by the Togolese Red Cross as National Health Director and today I have the privilege to join himself and his team in the organization of the campaign against malaria which will take place next December of 2008.

It is tremendously inspiring to work with people like Dr Battah. Through him and my Red Cross colleagues I also have the opportunity to discover the culture and traditions of Togo, its welcoming and magnificent peoples!
Posted for: Nathalia Guerrero

Maputo, April 22, 2008

Maputo, April 22, 2008

Malaria: a disease without borders.

Last night, I participated in a World Malaria Faire that took place in Maputo, the vibrant capital of Mozambique.

The event was called: Malaria, a disease without frontiers. This phrase captured my attention because I felt it was so real. Malaria doesn¹t distinguish country borders, skin color or marital status! It affects millions of children and families around the world and this is why an event to commemorate World Malaria Day is so meaningful.

There were people from many different countries at the faire, where you could find materials and presentations from international and local organizations whose efforts are focused on the fight against malaria.

Under a full moon, we had the opportunity to see a live theatrical demonstration of how mosquito nets should be used. There was music and dance and the local press covered the colorful happening.

The following day, I was happy to see that the major newspapers and TV news programs from Mozambique dedicated their time and space to cover the faire and talk about malaria, an endemic disease that kills a child every 30 seconds.

I was happy to see this because the majority of times, good media coverage helps raise people¹s awareness about major issues such as malaria, and this can also translate in increasing the support to vulnerable communities that bear this terrible burden.

As one of the humanitarian workers that are part of this global endeavor, it is quite amazing to see how many people and countries are working together to combat this mortal disease. Malaria has no frontiers, but the efforts to fight it also don¹t have borders.

Happy World Malaria Day!
Posted for: Nathalia Guerrero

Uganda to O-town to the T-dot

Thursday, June 12, 2008
Last week as I was flying to Uganda, East Africa, I sat beside a mother and her 18-month-old daughter. The woman was returning home to introduce her child who had been born in the UK. As we spoke about our plans for our respective trips, she told me about how excited she was at her family meeting her young baby and she also said she was concerned about her baby getting sick with Malaria. In silence, I glanced over at her little girl who was sitting on the ground and playing with her mother’s headphones. As it should be she was completely lost in the bliss of being a baby but the dangers of her contracting Malaria were very real.

After a quick trip to Uganda, I am now in Ottawa on my way to Toronto for World Malaria Day on Friday April 25th. In the days leading up to this first ever-global event, the Canadian Red Cross was proud to announce that along with the generous support of the Canadian government, the founders of Music World, Kroum and Eva Pindoff were going to match dollar to dollar of up to a million dollars that is donated by Canadians to the Malaria Bites campaign. It was also exciting to meet Firdaus Kharas the genius behind the HIV/AIDS PSAs, the Three Amigos. If you haven’t seen them, you can find all 5 spots on youtube.com.

Along those lines, Firdaus has created these brilliant commercials for Malaria prevention and awareness with the very funny characters of Buzz and Bite, two mosquitoes on the hunt to infect people with Malaria parasites. The 30 PSAs will be available worldwide and they have been translated into 40 languages. Buzz and Bite were produced in part with the support of the CRC and have received support from someone who is truly respected worldwide, the Most Reverend Desmond Tutu.

Firdaus produced these spots out of his own time. He volunteered to bring awareness on something he feels more people need to know about. He is passionate about the message and is active in spreading the message. And it is so inspiring to see so many people joining the Malaria Bites facebook group and to have so many supporters across the country galvanizing as a community to affect change.

I have no idea how to express how good it feels to be a part of something that is bigger than myself. As foreign as Malaria might sound, it is such a big disease, which absolutely requires all of our participation. I hope that you will join me in Toronto on Thursday and Friday as the Red Cross launches events to commemorate World Malaria Day. To borrow a phrase from U.S. Presidential Democratic nominee Barack Obama, ‘Yes We Can’.
posted by KB at 10:10 AM 0 comments
Thursday, April 10, 2008

30 Seconds and Counting
It’s been a few months since I traveled to Mali, West Africa for the launch of the Canadian Red Cross Malaria Bites campaign. Red Cross distributed over 1.8 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and other international partners provided vaccinations, vitamin A and deworming medicine for children under the age of 5 - a milestone many kids in Africa don’t live to celebrate.

Recently the show “American Idol” had its annual “Idol Gives Back” event. During the show, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged to buy 20 million anti-malarial bed nets and oil company Exxon Mobil separately announced a $10 million donation. Although these generous donations will make a significant difference in the fight against malaria, the need is still great.

Forty per cent of the world’s population is at risk of contracting malaria. And in addition to the human toil, the disease also affects the economy and productivity of the countries that are already at risk of extreme poverty.

Since being diagnosed with the disease last summer, I’ve slowly started to feel like myself again. I used to function on four hours of sleep but while I was recovering from cerebral malaria I found myself in bed for nearly 12 hours a day. Living in one of the richest countries in the world, I’ve been able to seek treatment that the majority of those living in malaria hotspots around the world would never have access to.

Currently I’m editing the video I shot when I was in Mali. Seeing the faces of the mothers with their children as they lined up for the nets and hearing the babies crying after their vaccinations brings back a lot of memories. The love and pride that each mother showed for their child was joy at its simplest form and to think of the heartache that these same mothers are still venerable to experiencing because of the looming shadow of malaria has been extremely frustrating.

But as April 25 approaches, it’s exciting to know that the day has now been changed to World Malaria Day instead of Africa Malaria Day. I think that’s significant because the disease is a global responsibility. Since malaria is such a complex disease it will take the effort of every single one of us as global citizens to combat it and to prevent it from continuing to kill one African child every 30 seconds.

In the time that it’s taken you to read this blog, malaria has already claimed the lives of at least five more children.
Posted for Nam Kiwanuka

Bamako, December 13, 2007

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Following many months of preparations, the largest public health event ever to take place in Mali has begun.

Early in the morning, the president of the country urged the population to attend the vaccination and distribution sites where over 2,8 million children under five will receive free health services that the majority of them cannot access on a regular bases. This is a unique opportunity for Malian families living with less than 1 dollar per day to protect their children from common diseases such as measles, polio and malaria, as well as other health conditions including intestinal worms and malnutrition.

Starting as early as 5 am, thousands of families started to line-up outside the health centres. This is one of the first signs that the campaign will be a success.Meanwhile, thousands of health workers and Mali Red Cross volunteers started setting up the sites that will deliver this massive intervention across the country.

Marking the beginning of the week-long campaign, today is a very important moment in the history of Mali.
After visiting distribution sites around Bamako, I left the capital city with a team of Red Cross workers and headed to the region of Segou. As an international delegate that is here to support the campaign and in particular the work of the Mali Red Cross, I wish to capture the immense team-effort that has made this possible with the help of my camera lenses and my pen.Segou, Niono, December 14, 2007.

We departed from Segou at 7 am and drove over an hour and a half to reach the town of Niono. As we drove, I saw vaccination and distribution centres along the road in urban, rural and isolated regions. At every community we passed by, there were lengthy line-ups of families outside the sites. The whole country is taking part in this massive effort that will improve the health of children and their mothers.

Arriving at a vaccination and distribution site is a powerful but also potentially overwhelming experience. It is a simultaneous array of faces, colors, smells, sounds and textures. Mothers chat loudly while breastfeeding their babies and waiting in line. Children run around and play. Some health workers try to control the crowd as others provide vaccines to crying children and mosquito nets to happy mothers. Families continue to arrive as others leave the sites with sobbing but healthier children.

Behind this apparent chaos, I see a display of true team-work. Everybody works together to make this happen, from donors to organizers and beneficiaries. I look at the eyes of the people present, and I feel a deep sense of humanity. We are all here for the same reasons. We care. To me, this is one of the most important messages from this campaign.
Posted for: Nathalia Guerrero

“Mobilizing the Community” – day 2

Sunday, December 9, 2007

When I first arrived to Mali, I was under the impression that this campaign was just about mosquito net distribution but since meeting with Pat Laberge the Malaria Program Manager at the Canadian Red Cross I’ve learned that it’s much more than that.

Pat has been with the CRC since 1994 and before that she was a teacher in South Africa (1990-94) towards the end of Apartheid rule. Her first mission with the CRC was in Rwanda. I can only imagine what she experienced or saw in those years. Pat said something that’s stuck with me since I met her: ‘We will always have conflict but we should work with conflict in a constructive manner’. Needless to say, I was really impressed with her.

So I’ve now learned that the campaign here in Mali isn’t just about Malaria. It’s about improving a child’s survival to any illness and their overall health. Their are 5 interventions: vaccinations for measles and polio, Vitamin A, Mebendazole for worms and the insecticide treated mosquito nets. These interventions all compliment each other in preventing illness and in aiding a child be healthier. In this way, the Red Cross is helping to build the capacity in Mali's health system.I have a two-year-old nephew and I’ve been there practically at every single doctor’s appointment since he was born. When he was a certain age, he had to be vaccinated for certain illnesses. For most countries in the developing world, most people do not have access to vaccinations. Something that is a right to us is often times unattainable elsewhere. After finding all of this out, I’m even more amazed at the power of what $7 can do.

On my second day in Mali, I was able to go door-to-door with the Malian Red Cross volunteers. It was very cool to discover that a group of volunteers weren’t flown in from Canada for this project but instead the mission represents those from the very communities who are at risk. It was impressive to see the volunteers go from each home and to speak to the families about the campaign. They explained to them that the program was for children under the age of 5 who are the most vulnerable.

They told them about the 5 interventions and about where they should go the day of the program. The Red Cross has tried to ensure that all families have access to the health centers. Depending on how far they lived from the nearest fixed site, a truck or a motorbike would transport the nets to their homes. The most important thing was to try to ensure access for all the Malian families with children under the age of 5.It was something to watch the Malian Red Cross volunteers interacting with the local community. When we walked into their family compounds we were always welcomed with smiles and curiosity. The opportunity to have their children’s health improved was something that was clearly universal.
Posted for Nam Kiwanuka

"Mali For Malaria” – day 1

Sunday, December 9, 2007
My flight into Bamako airport in Mali was filled with some really bad Franglais (what I call my French language skills), light turbulence that still left me green in the face and it seems as if from the moment that the plane hit the tarmac, I was in love with Mali.

While I muddled through my French, I somehow managed to secure an entry Visa, exchange my pounds into the local CFA currency and then I navigated my way through the manic rush hour-like atmosphere at baggage check. There were a lot of bodies, a lot of suitcases and very little space to move around. I enjoyed every second of it.

After I made my way to the parking lot, I was picked up by Nicholas who’s been living in Mali since July and by the lovely Nathalia, both Red Cross delegates and both trilingual; French, Spanish and English. How amazing is that? Did I mention that I’m still trying to master English?

As we pulled out of the airport, I took a deep breathe of Malian air and ditched my winter coat. Although it was nearing midnight, the drive into Bamako, the country’s capital, was eventful. There were scooters zipping up and down the busy highway, people walking on the side of the road and the horizon of the city was filled with lights.

The Canadian Red Cross has invited me to Mali for it’s largest net distribution to date. Along with insecticide treated mosquito nets, the Red Cross and its various partners have taken the initiative to administer measles and polio vaccinations and to provide Vitamin A supplements and deworming medicines to all of Mali’s children under the age of 5. Over the next few days I will learn about these 5 interventions and the importance of their integration.

Truth be told I didn’t know very much about Malaria until I became sick with it. Even after I was diagnosed I wasn’t as scared until I saw firsthand what it could do under such a short period of time. So imagine the damage it can do on a small child who isn’t as strong?Even though we live in Canada, this disease is closer than we think. As more of us travel, Malaria can hit closer to home through our friends and family. Being here for this campaign will be something I will never forget. I will be a part of an experience that will essentially change so many lives.

Upon checking into the hotel, I unpack my bags and power up my laptop. I sleep lightly as I am eagerly anticipating what’s to come over the next few days.
Posted for Nam Kiwanuka

Countdown to Mali

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

A year ago, I didn't really know anything about Malaria but the past few months have been an education of sorts. It's been a few days now since I found out that I will be joining the Canadian Red Cross as it distributes 1.8 million mosquitoe nets to the West African country of Mali. I'm really excited to be involved with the Red Cross in getting the word out to Canadians about this parasitic disease. Here is a recent article I wrote for the Toronto Star about what Malaria almost cost me.

"Malaria Bites"

Initially, I felt really tired and nauseous. Then I couldn’t keep my food down. Everything I ate or drank, I threw up. I knew Sierra Leone was a hotbed for Malaria but it took two visits to the doctor before I decided to get a blood test. I was shocked when the test was positive for Malaria parasites. For six weeks since my arrival in Sierra Leone, I had been taking all the recommended precautions — my daily dose of doxycycline, an anti-malarial drug, sleeping under a net, using bug spray and covering up my arms and legs in the evenings.

Soon nights had become unbearable. My temperature bounced between 38 and 39 degrees C. My mind started to play tricks on me. I was delusional. Each day I would tell my flat mates to be careful when they left for work. I felt a sense of impending doom and I felt completely at its mercy. My body ached and when everyone in the house was sleeping I quietly sobbed in my bed fearful of the outcome.

Although I was born in Africa, the idea of getting Malaria was foreign to me. It was something that I never thought I would experience or that I would be diagnosed with the most serious of the four strains of the disease. I’m sure that most of us in Canada have no idea of what exactly malaria is. I’m pleased to now be working as a spokesperson with the Canadian Red Cross in a campaign it’s launched to promote awareness of the disease. Malaria almost cost me my life and it continues to affect 40% of the world’s population, mostly young children and pregnant women, who are at risk on a daily basis of contracting this deadly illness.

Since 2003 the Canadian Red Cross, with funding from CIDA, (Canadian International Development Agency) has hand-delivered 2.5 million mosquito nets to six African nations: Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Malawi, Niger, Zambia and Togo.

Although there is no vaccine for the disease, the best weapon against Malaria is through prevention with the use of an insecticide treated mosquito bed net. These nets can last for up to 5 years and will protect a child or family from being bitten by the mosquito that carries the Malaria parasites at night.

The use of anti-malarial drugs, insect repellants and the mosquito un-friendly environments of mesh screens on windows and air-conditioning in a house are also deterrents but these are luxuries in the areas of the world where the disease is most prevalent.

I had traveled to Sierra Leone, West Africa to work as a Media Trainer with a Canadian Non Governmental Organization. Over the course of eight months, I was to train the local journalists the basics of reporting and work with them ON covering human rights stories.

The country was holding its first independent elections since the civil war ended in 2002. The brutal conflict that began in 1991, subjected hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians and children to mass amputations, rape and the abductions of kids who were forced to become soldiers. I was there to witness this.

This past summer, the people of Sierra Leone elected a new government that’s vowed to improve the lives of its people by addressing the problems of adequate housing, employment, education and health care.While I was in the hospital being treated for Malaria, I saw people lying on mats in the hallways because they couldn’t afford a bed.In Sierra Leone the patient pays his or her own medical costs. I was billed for everything including the syringes and needles that were used to test my blood. My first round of treatment consisted of 8 pills and cost 25, 000 Leones, the equivalent of $10, and approximately one third of the average monthly wage in Sierra Leone. A bag of rice is 70, 000 Leones. If someone were to get sick in that situation they would be forced to choose between their health and feeding their family.

Malaria has been called a disease of poverty and continues to affect nearly half a billion people a year, mostly in Africa. The Canadian Red Cross estimates 1 million people die from Malaria each year. The disease kills more children than AIDS, TB or any other infectious disease. Everyday, 3, 000 children, most under the age of 5, die from Malaria. That works out to a child every 30 seconds. Staggering.Shortly after I was diagnosed with malaria, the doctors told me that I also had Typhoid.

A few days later I was near death. I went into anaphylactic shock. My doctor treated me with the drug novalgin, also known as diphyrone. This extremely dangerous drug was banned in Canada during the 60s and in the United States in the 70s. This drug causes agranulocytosis and anaphylactic shock both life threatening risks. Agranulocytosis is a dangerous condition where there is a severe reduction in the body’s white blood cells and anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction that kills in mere minutes if not treated.

Novalgin is still being manufactured and distributed to countries in Africa and South America. It is a painkiller that can be substituted for paracetemol or aspirin.

According to BUKO Pharma-Kampagne, an advocacy group based in Germany that monitors the activities of German pharmaceutical companies in the third world, the drug is still being manufactured because “as long as there are good profits to make there is no reason for a company to stop the production. And where drug regulation is weak and independent information is lacking even bad drugs make good business”.

What’s frightening is that when someone who can afford treatment gets infected with a common illness like Malaria, they may have to contend with a flawed system which may include banned or expired drugs.After I went into anaphylactic shock, I was so sick that I was repatriated to the UK. My fiancé had to take me to the doctor on a weekly basis. I was suffering from severe anemia and had relentless migraine headaches, something I’ve never suffered from. Just walking a few feet left me exhausted and panicked. I couldn’t sleep and I had nightmares about the day I almost died. I felt like I was missing. Like Bruce Willis’ character in the movie ‘the sixth sense’.

Following weeks of bed rest it was decided that I couldn’t return to Sierra Leone. I was devastated. I had fallen in love with the country and I had formed a strong bond with Hannah, my boss at the radio station I was working at. I felt like I could help my trainees but now I was no longer in a position to do so. I felt defeated. I had traveled to Sierra Leone with an NGO that promotes human rights only to have my fundamental right to health be violated a right that is denied from millions of people around the world on a daily basis. It is a lesson that I will never forget.

I experienced first hand what can happen when you get sick in Africa but at least I had the resources to get help. Now I’m excited that something good has come out my experience and I’m looking forward to organizing a fundraiser with the Red Cross in the New Year to bring awareness on this dangerous but preventable disease.

This past October the Canadian Red Cross launched its largest net distribution to date: 2 million nets to Madagascar and Mali. For the average cost of a magazine and a coffee, I invite all Canadians in donating a $7 net.With more and more Canadians traveling to remote areas of the world, Malaria is something more people can come in contact with. Making it a very possible reality for all of us and a $7 bed net can be the difference between life and death.
Posted for Nam Kiwanuka

Bamako, November 29, 2007

Friday, November 30, 2007

Last week, I traveled to the region of Ségou where trainings of Mali Red Cross volunteers ahead of the campaign were taking place. I traveled with Tereta, who is also a professor of sociology in Bamako. We arrived in Ségou, where the Mali Red Cross supervisors and the regional president gave us a very warm welcome. We then went to see the training of over 25 volunteers who were learning about the five interventions that will be provided during the campaign (vaccination against measles, polio, vitamin A, deworming treatments and mosquito nets).

Every volunteer had a Mali Red Cross vest and they were also learning about the history of the Red Cross. It was very special to see all these people from all age ranges wanting to help others and be part of this huge Movement. They are the best source of inspiration for me.

The next day, we drove an hour to the north of Ségou and found ourselves in the village of Niono. The volunteers at this training were not only working hard but also having lots of fun at the same time! When I arrived with Tereta, they were in the middle of a role-play activity where a group of five volunteers pretended to be the health and Red Cross workers at the vaccination and distribution sites. Another group of volunteers represented the mothers and their children, and the remaining were the audience, which couldn¹t stop laughing and making fun of the nervous actors.

There was laughter, joy and at the same time serious commitment to the work that will be done during the campaign. It was a beautiful experience to be there.

On the way back to Ségou, we stopped at a small town called Marakala. There, we met the chief doctor who is receiving all the mosquito nets sent from the Canadian Red Cross warehouse in Bamako. The level of organization at this health centre was incredible. We also met the Red Cross supervisors who were preparing for the training of volunteers.

Madame Mah N¹Diaye, the Mali Red Cross supervisor in Marakala, is a woman that works in a female mutilation prevention program. The backyard of her house is the office and training centre of the Mali Red Cross in Markala. At this same location, a group of women sew baby clothes, tablecloths and bed covers to sell. This is how they raise funds to support the female mutilation prevention program. I felt a deep respect for their work and commitment and felt tremendously proud to be part of a Movement that counts with people such as this group of women.

We left Marakala before the end of the day and returned to Ségou. As the sun went down, purple, yellow and orange colors spread across the sky and shone over the river Niger. It was a perfect way to say goodbye to the unforgettable and colorful experiences we shared on this day.
Posted for Nathalia Guerrero

Bamako, November 26, 2007

Friday, November 30, 2007

Mali is preparing for the largest public health campaign ever held in its territory! During the last few weeks, the Ministry of Health and its national and international partners have trained over 10,000 health workers across the country that will provide vaccination services during the campaign.

The Mali Red Cross has also trained over 2,500 volunteers who will be working alongside the health personnel at the vaccination and distribution sites.

The mosquito nets, vaccines, vitamin A, and all the supplies needed for the campaign have travelled during weeks and they have now reached their finaldestinations: basic health-care centres all over the map.
Religious and community leaders, members of civil society, the media, the public and private sectors, have all been engaged in the campaign.

Information sessions in key regional hubs have been held to discuss each actor¹s role and the ways in which they can best contribute to the success of this massive public health initiative.I had never seen anything like this in my life! The whole country has mobilized to make this happen; to protect the lives of over two million children and their mothers, to improve their health and give them more chances to grow, develop and lead lasting and fulfilling lives.
Posted for Nathalia Guerrero

Antananarivo, October 14, 2007

Monday, October 22, 2007
just came back from my first field trip in Madagascar. Our team drove over 700 kilometres from Antananarivo to Morondava, a small city located in the west coast ofthe island. The journey was a great opportunity to get to know our colleagues from the Malagasy Red Cross and share unique moments that will stay with us forever. It has also allowed me to discover the stunning landscapes and variety that this country has to offer.

The purpose of my visit to Morondava was to attend a Red Cross training to over thirty volunteers coming from different regions of the country. The participants were first introduced to the history and principles of the Red Cross. They were then taught social mobilization techniques and explained the roles that they will undertake during the week of the campaign against malaria.

In a country where this disease is the first cause of child mortality, such a campaign is taken very seriously by all involved. As I was talking to one of the local Red Cross coordinators, she said: "the fight against malaria is a fight against poverty". I will never forget these words and the expression in her deep black eyes when she said them.

I didn't understand much of what was being said during the training as it was given in Malagasy. But it was special just to be there and see how keen these volunteers are about helping their communities in the fight against malaria. Some of them are very young and passionate about humanitarian work. I think they are true youthful leaders that will make enormous contributions to their people. The hardships they have faced did not break their resolve but rather infused them with a force that now motivates them to help others.

For me, one of the best parts of my work is the opportunity to meet people such as them. It is a privilege to live these experiences alongside them and to learn from their strengths and experiences.

Antananarivo, September 29th 2007

Monday, October 22, 2007
The days go by quickly in this part of the world where the sun goes always down at the same time of the day (around 6:30 pm). After my first two weeks in Antananarivo, my body has finally adapted to the new time zone and the different foods, which include a lot of red meat, vanilla and coconut.

I am sharing a small apartment with Mandy, a junior delegate who is here to develop her skills in humanitarian assistance from the malaria campaign experience and prepare for future missions with the Red Cross.

Every day, when I leave what I consider “my home” in Madagascar, a long line of people at their age d’or, greet us with a big smile on their face as we leave to the office of the Malagasy Red Cross.

They walk several kilometres a day to reach the place right under our home. It is an initiative that provides one meal a day to elders who don’t have the means to buy it. Their smiles are like a ray of sunshine that lightens my mornings.

Once I arrive at the office, I meet Mboula, my counterpart, and we start working on all the preparations ahead of the week of the campaign against malaria.
Posted for: Nathalia Guerrero

Malaria Campaign launch - getting ready...

Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Antananarivo is a vibrant city. Being here feels like being in the 1960s or 70s. Old structures and almost antique French cars fill this city situated in the highlands of the island. Poverty here is endemic but the laughter of playful children can be heard throughout the city. The kindness and hospitality of the Malagasy people towards visitors is known internationally.

It has been quite moving to see the pride the malgache take on their culture, history and geography. They are also very much aware of their history as a colonized country and their recent independence in the 1960s.

I am part of a team of four people from the Canadian Red Cross that is currently preparing for the launch of the Malaria Campaign - an immense effort to prevent this disease from killing more children under five years of age and their families.

When I participated in the post-tsunami operations, I was a witness of human generosity as the response to the disaster was almost as comparable as the destruction it caused.

Millions of people from all over the world gathered funds and supported the tsunami survivors. Today, I am again a witness of this universal human generosity by being part of this effort.How is it possible that so many children die of a preventable disease such malaria each year? I ask myself this question, especially when I see children playing in the streets. This is happily starting to change in Madagascar. In October 2007, over one and a half million families will receive a free insecticide-treated mosquito net, one of the simplest methods of combating malaria.

I enjoy very much working with the logisticians that make all this happen! They are at the heart of the operation, always alert and on call, anything can happen, but the nets HAVE to reach their final destination. It’s their job and they feel responsible for helping to protect the lives of those kids.

If you imagine the thousands of kilometres that a bed net crosses from its point of departure to its final destination: the bed of a child… it really makes you wonder!

I was amazed when I first realized that thousands of these mosquito nets travel by air, water and land. A logistician will do all it takes to reach the most isolated communities, and this means that sometimes bed nets can arrive by ox carts, pyrogue, unimog, or carried on human shoulders. This one is the most adventurous parts of the campaign…

Posted for: Nathalia Guerrero

Fighting Malaria in Africa

Tuesday, October 2, 2007
It has been over a week since I arrived in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar. I am here to support the efforts of the Canadian Red Cross in the fight against malaria in the African continent.

Part of my work is supporting the Malagasy Red Cross in the launch of this massive malaria campaign that aims at distributing over a million bed nets to families with children under five.

Mboula, my counterpart in the MRC is a former journalist, like myself, with over four years of media experience. She joined the Red Cross only two months ago and is preparing for the October 2007 malaria campaign.

This is my first time in the African continent and, to my surprise, Madagascar is a nation that resembles some south-east Asian countries. During my last mission with the Canadian Red Cross, I spent one year in Indonesia working in the post-tsunami operations.

Today, I find it quite astonishing that the Malagasy people are descendants of not only Africans but also of Indonesian travellers that came to the island about 2,000 years ago. Being familiar with the Indonesian culture, I feel very comfortable in Madagascar. This the fourth biggest island of the world and one of its poorest countries.

Posted for: Nathalia Guerrero

Settling into the rhythm of the place...

Sunday, October 14, 2007
I have been here in Madagascar a little over a month now and I can most assuredly say I will not return home the same person. Although I will forever be an outsider here (a “vazaha” in Malagasy) I am beginning to settle into the rhythm of the place.

Until our field visit last week, I had only seen the capital and therefore my experience of the project and of Madagascar itself had been somewhat limited. This recent visit, though, I feel gave me little more insight. Even in Antananarivo one cannot help but notice the jarring beauty of the surrounding mountains, yet, as we traveled a few hours outside the city I was rendered speechless by the amazing geography of this great island.

Mountains were followed by grasslands, which were then followed by deserts. We drove though bitter cold and searing heat, through green forests and fields of giant ant hills, most often over roads that were impassably rough and remarkably dusty. It is true I was astounded by almost everything on this visit, but, it is fair to say I was most moved by the people I met. From my jovial but devoted traveling companions (from the Croix-Rouge Malagasy and the Canadian Red Cross delegation), to the helpful and courteous members of the local Red Cross societies, to the people on the roadside happily waving to us “vazahas” as we stirred up dirt clouds with our lumbering land rovers. I have come to greatly appreciate the people here.

My visions of the malaria project in Madagascar were also encouraging. In the metropolis of Tana it had sometimes been hard to envision how the weeklong campaign would unfold in some of the more remote towns and villages. This field visit allowed me to observe volunteer trainings and talk to the on site volunteers. This gave me a great deal more insight into what will be happening in the upcoming weeks.

My recent travels to Morondava have been both enlightening and alarming. I was, indeed, refreshed by the voyage into the field, but, was also shaken by some of the visions and stories surrounding the campaign. I discovered that Madagascar’s beauty is unquestionable, but, also that there is a pressing need for something to be done to improve the lives of many of the people here. I have realized the distressing truth that death, disease and loss are not foreign concepts to many Malagasy people. It is sad to see that something as preventable as malaria can ravage a people as resilient and affable as those that inhabit this place.

Almost everyone seems to have been affected by or have had an experience with malaria and as I discovered, on my arm, my first mosquito bite of the trip (despite layers of insect repellant and a bed net) I began to ponder just how it must feel to be afflicted by such an illness without the comfort of and assurance that is provided by easy access to drugs and treatment.We now preparing for the upcoming intensive week of the Campaign Integree, which will hopefully contribute to the eradication of this devastating and endemic problem. During the week of the campaign we will once again venture into the field for to observe the activities of the Croix Rouge Malagasy and its partners here and I will assuredly learn a great deal more about this important work.

Posted for: Many LeRiche

Welcome to Madagascar!

Tuesday, September 25, 2007
When I landed in Madagascar two days ago, I was not sure what to expect. It felt as though I had walked off the plane and into another world. I had hoped to get a view of the island from the air but the sun had long set and I had an aisle seat. That seat, though, was invaluable to me, as this was how I would get to my new home for the next five months in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Only a month ago I had received the phone call from the Canadian Red Cross International office informing me that I was to become the new junior delegate. I was thrilled.

I then set about on a series of medical visits where I was poked and prodded with a host of vaccines and prescribed with five months worth of anti-malarial medicines. With sore arms and two full bags I then traveled to Maniwaki, Quebec (a few hours outside of Ottawa) where I attended the Canadian Red Cross overseas personnel basic training course. After seven intensive days of learning and one final night in Canada, I boarded my flight.

Upon arrival I was met Madagascar Malaria Program Manager and former junior delegate Adam Johnston. My next days in Madagascar were spent learning how a malaria bed net campaign is organized and implemented. Thus far my experience has been enlightening.

Since my arrival here I have been met with such warmth and generosity on behalf of the Malagasy people. I'm excited to see how the program unfolds and expect to learn a great deal.
Posted for: Mandy LeRiche

Community Efforts by Community Members

Friday, March 23, 2007

Even for someone from the west coast of Canada the recent rhythm of the rain has seemed an almost foreign sound after months of straight sunshine. It signals the beginning of the rainy season, and with it, an increase in mosquitoes harboring the malaria parasite. In preparation, the Kenya Red Cross has mobilized its volunteers for an intensive ‘Hang Up’ campaign to encourage the use of mosquito nets.

When properly hung over sleeping spaces, insecticide treated nets prevent malaria by providing an effective barrier to mosquitoes. In July and September 2006, the Kenya Red Cross - in partnership with the Kenya Ministry of Health, distributed approximately 3.5 million long-lasting insecticide treated nets free of charge, but now they must promote proper usage by those most at risk – children and pregnant women. Over the longer term, a ‘Keep Up’ program will be conducted through periodic house to house visits by volunteers to continue to promote net use as well as communicate other health messages such as prompt treatment of fever and completion of immunizations.

The Kenya Red Cross, like other national societies, is a volunteer based organization rooted at the community level. This enables Red Cross to be effective in social mobilization - a process to reach, influence, and involve all relevant segments of society to affect positive behavior and social change. However, organizational capacity does not guarantee program success and it is therefore critical to gauge and evaluate programs in order to adapt approaches and strategies and become more effective. The Kenya Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, with technical support from the American Red Cross, will be conducting an evaluation of the “Keep Up” program to assess its effectiveness, and I have been working to support Dr. Patricia David - Senior Health Advisor with the American Red Cross prepare the initial survey.

In order to prevent inaccurate results, a great deal of thought and attention must be put into the careful wording of every question asked in a survey of this nature. It is critical to rely not only on the advice of professionals who specialize in the field of data collection and analysis, but also on people with local knowledge who understand the cultural context. Questions must be easily understood, even by those with little or no education, but must not be overly leading, or they risk encouraging false responses.

This baseline survey will provide information about current net ownership and use as well as gauge the level of general malaria knowledge. When compared against the final survey, the results will reveal the impact and effectiveness of the program and will provide information that can be used to develop guidelines and training materials for future Red Cross programs and for other civil society organizations wishing to implement similar initiatives.

Outside of work, and through a strange twist of fate, I have had the opportunity to link up with a grassroots women’s group from Kibera – one of Nairobi’s slums, and one of the largest in the world. There are nearly a million people living in Kibera, approximately one quarter of the population of Nairobi. Though they pay rent, they have no legal entitlement to the land on which they live. They are forced to seek protection from forced displacement through political or tribal patronage, or they risk having their homes dismantled or burnt down. With each wave of migration towards the urban center and away from the problems of rural underdevelopment faced throughout the country and the region, Kibera has become home to residents from all the major tribal and ethnic groups. This multi-ethnic make up combined with the system of political and tribal patronage has been the source of many violent and volatile conflicts over the years.

The group I met was formed spontaneously by women representing all of Kibera’s tribes and major religions who came together despite that their differences were often the source of conflict, with a common desire to provide protection and support to women being targeted for rape and abuse during the tribal warring of 2000. Since then, they have grown to nearly 200 members and evolved into a branch of a broader movement called the Vision Sisters. Today, the Kibera Branch meet regularly and are involved in everything from support and care to people living with HIV/Aids to pooling funds to acquire legal entitlement to land.

As the lack of land ownership is one of the main reasons for the marginalization of those living in Kibera, the primary goal of the Vision Sisters is to raise funds to purchase legal land and shelter outside of the slum for all of its members. However, in recognition that this will take time, they have also turned their attention to meeting the immediate needs of the most vulnerable among them, and within the broader community. To support their initiatives, they run a catering service for local weddings and celebrations that provides a source of revenue they use to rent a meeting room and fund their activities and land purchases.

Until now, the group has been entirely self-funded and independent, but through meetings with local contacts and introductions to other contacts, the group is beginning to tap into some of the resources and support structures that they can access through partnerships and collaborations. As a result of their networking, several members were invited to participate in last summer’s World Urban Forum held in Vancouver. When Mama Hamza, the group’s Chairlady, shared with me her thoughts on the conference, I could see the pride and confidence the experience had instilled in her. At the World Urban Forum, they were able to meet with other grassroot groups as well as major organizations from all over the world to share ideas and learn from each other. These women, most of whom are of a generation that didn’t have the opportunity to attend school beyond primary level, now speak the language of development; talking about organizational capacity, income generation activities, and good governance. With the support of a local contact with the United Nations Development Programme, occasional access to a public computer for email and typing, and a small budget for printing, they are now preparing to write a proposal for funding to build a women’s shelter and have interest from a major international donor.

Knowing the language and systems of organizations may seem insignificant, but that knowledge is the key to accessing outside support. With this support, a local group like the Vision Sisters can develop programs that are based on their understanding of the needs and capacities of their community that those on the outside would likely never be able to. While I was not there in an official Red Cross capacity, I helped to brainstorm ways that they could tap into the services and training provided by the Red Cross, such as First Aid training and the HIV/Aids home based care program. In its essence, this is how the Red Cross can best serve the most vulnerable - by tapping into the potential within vulnerable communities and empowering community members to actively improve their circumstances.

Walking through Kibera, the vibrancy of life is evident throughout; its narrow dirt pathways - arteries of activity - wind between the jumble of tin shelters. A butcher hacks at hind quarters along side a barber who cuts hair, and nearby a rough piece of blackboard advertised in chalk a ‘movie theatre’ - a cramped dark room playing pirated dvd’s on a small television. Evident also is the tragic realities of utter poverty; garbage and feces line the paths - evidence of the ‘flying toilet’ - a practice of disposing of human waste by simply tossing away the bag used as there is nowhere to properly dispose of it - and flows into streams used for drinking, contributing to the spread of disease. Substance abuse is rampant, as is physical abuse. Children are especially vulnerable as many have been orphaned by mother’s succumbing to HIV/Aids, a growing problem with one fifth those infected with HIV in Kenya, living in its slums.

It was humbling to see the strength and resilience of those who live there; to see that people find ways to support their families, ways to have their children go to school, ways to feel joy and happiness even when surrounded by hardship. However, it is also discouraging knowing the immense challenges they face, and I can’t help but feel that the slum phenomenon will be one of the biggest challenges the world will face in the next hundred years if globalization continues to further marginalize people through gross disparities of wealth.

…As I looked out over the ever expanding horizon of tin roof tops, feeling overwhelmed and somewhat dejected, Mama Hamza tapped me on the arm knowingly as a close relative would and spoke in almost reassuring tones about the future of Kiberia. She remains optimistic that things can improve, and she has taught me that if women like her, who have seen and experienced so much hardship, can find reason for optimism then all of us should.