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!

Back in Lomé

December 16, 2008
After three weeks in Nigeria’s Cross River State, I am back in Lomé, Togo. I meet again with my colleagues who, over the last few weeks, like their counterparts in Nigeria, worked hard to launch the anti-malaria campaign. Charlie Musoka, project manager for the Canadian Red Cross malaria program in Togo, told me upon my return that as of Dec 15 the mosquito net distribution coverage rate was around 97.5%. The next step, presently on its way, aims among other things. to make sure that parents have properly set the nets up so that their children are protected.

Tomorrow I will be on the road with notebook, camera and video camera to act as your eyes and ears. In the coming weeks, a report on my field trip will be on the Canadian Red Cross website.

The net distributions carried out in two countries required an enormous amount of collaboration and coordination. “It was an asset to work with several partners and we worked hard to ensure we had common and coherent messages to the public,” noted Doug Henderson, project manager for the Canadian Red Cross malaria program in Nigeria. “Regular meetings and listening to each other’s ideas and needs have allowed us to do this.”

In less than a week I shall be back in Canada. But before leaving, I have a last duty to perform -- to inform Canadians about the last leg of this campaign. I love my job. It allows me to meet with real people in their own environment, to listen to them and to see with my own eyes the positive results of the donations contributed by Canadians. Few people are fortunate enough to get up in the morning and say “Great ! Another day!”

De retour à Lomé

Le 16 décembre 2008
Après trois semaines dans l’état de Cross River au Nigeria, je suis de retour à Lomé au Togo. Je retrouve mes collègues qui, durant les dernières semaines, tout comme ceux en poste au Nigeria, ont travaillé d’arrache-pied au lancement de la campagne de lutte contre le paludisme. Charlie Musoka, gestionnaire de projet, Programme de distribution de moustiquaires de la Croix-Rouge canadienne au Togo, me confiait à mon arrivée, qu’en date du 15 décembre, le taux de couverture de distribution des moustiquaires était de l’ordre de 97,5 %. La prochaine étape qui est en cours vise notamment à s’assurer que les familles ont bien installé leurs moustiquaires afin que les enfants soient protégés.

Demain, je partirai avec mon carnet, mon appareil photo et ma vidéo caméra pour être vos yeux et vos oreilles. Vous retrouverez sur le site de la Croix-Rouge canadienne, dans les prochaines semaines, le compte rendu de ce voyage terrain.

La campagne de distribution des moustiquaires qui s’est tenue dans les deux pays représente un énorme travail de collaboration, de coordination et de planification. Comme l’a mentionné Doug Henderson, gestionnaire de projet au Nigeria, « malgré les avantages de travailler avec différents partenaires, le plus grand défi consistait à maintenir la cohérence des messages transmis au public. » « Les multiples rencontres et l’écoute de tous et chacun ont permis de relever ce défi », a-t-il ajouté.

Dans moins d’une semaine, je serai de retour au Canada, mais avant de partir il me reste un dernier travail à faire, informer les Canadiens de la dernière étape de cette campagne.

J’adore mon travail. Il me permet de rencontrer des gens dans leur milieu, de les écouter et de constater les résultats positifs de la générosité des Canadiennes et Canadiens. Peu de gens ont le privilège de se lever le matin et de se dire : « Génial une autre journée! »

Posted for France Hurtubise