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!

Celebrating the fight against malaria

April 5, 2010

Today, Burundi marked the launch of its malaria campaign with singing, dancing and the magnificant beats from their drums. A commencement event was organized by the Burundi Red Cross to celebrate this important campaign.

The event was held in the province of Bubanza in an area called Mpanda. When we arrived there were a sea of Red Cross volunteers and about a hundred people.

A distribution table was set up in one area of the event grounds and an example net was set up. The event began when the Vice President of Burundi, Gabriel Ntisezerana, arrived. He gave a brief demonstration on how to properly hang a net and provided nets to a few young mothers. He then made his way to the other area for speeches.

Traditional drummers welcomed him and the crowd. Their magnicant beats, combined with their smiles, helped maintain the overall positive tone of the event.

My Canadian Red Cross colleague told me that Burundi drummers are among the best in all of Africa. After hearing them today, I have no doubt that it is true. They entertained the crowd and provided rhythm for traditional dancers.

A group of actors performed two skits toward the end of the event. The first was the story of a young mother who learned the importance of her net. The second was a demonstration of how the distribution process works -- that people will exchange their vouchers for nets. It was an entertaining way to provide important malaria information.

I saw many young mothers at the event, happily waiting to receive their nets. "Generally, I think nets are really important, but not everyone is fortunate enough to own one," said Alice Ndacayisaba, a mother who attended the event with her 2-month-old baby. "I think this is very good."

Over 521,000 nets will be distributed in three provinces at more than 130 distribution points. According to the Secretary General of the Burundi Red Cross, because one net can protect up to two people, the campaign will reach around one million people.

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!

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

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