Malaria

Goodbye Burundi -- It's been a blast!

2010-04-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-08T20:04:00.000-07:00

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!

Life-saving nets

2010-04-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

April 7, 2010

It's the third day of the net distribution in Burundi. We met at the Burundi Red Cross office bright and early and formed teams before setting out to visit the more than 130 distribution sites. My fellow Canadian Red Cross colleagues and I headed towards an area called Cibitoke.

North, near the Rwandan and Congolese borders, this area is ripe with green vegitation and banana trees and surrounded by mountains. In fact, a couple of the sites we visited were high up in the hills displaying a breathtaking view of the countryside.

We went from site to site, some with a couple hundred people waiting in line. Men, women and children were lined up to receive life-saving nets.

As we approached one site, they cheered and reached out to shake our hands. Over and over again I saw smiling mothers holding their tiny babies. It's heartwarming to know that this malaria campaign will protect their babies from malaria - a disease that kills 3,000 children every day in Africa.

Thanks to the generosity of Canadians, the Red Cross is helping to wipe out this sad statistic.

Le grand jour

2010-04-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

Le 29 mars 2010
Demain, c’est le grand jour – ma collègue Sylvie Zangger, agente de programme, Malaria, Croix-Rouge canadienne et moi-même monterons à bord d’un avion à destination de l’Afrique et plus précisément du Burundi. La Croix-Rouge canadienne distribuera plus de 521 000 moustiquaires qui sauvent des vies à des familles sur place. Il s’agira de ma première participation à une campagne de distribution.

Je travaille avec l’équipe des communications de la malaria pique depuis son lancement en 2007, même si depuis 2003 le programme de lutte contre la malaria de la Croix-Rouge canadienne fait du bon travail. Je suis enchantée de pouvoir constater, sur place, la différence que fait notre travail dans les collectivités africaines. Grâce à la générosité des Canadiens, le programme de lutte contre la malaria de la Croix-Rouge canadienne a distribué jusqu’à présent plus de six millions de moustiquaires et formé plus de 25 000 bénévoles de la Croix-Rouge africaine.
Un grand merci à la Croix-Rouge belge dont les fonds amassés dans le cadre de cette campagne ont permis à cette distribution d’avoir une aussi grande portée.

Je suis impatiente d’arriver là-bas et de partager mes expériences avec le Canada.

Celebrating the fight against malaria

2010-04-05T13:34:00.000-07:00

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.

Ever wondered what social moblization is?

2010-04-03T22:01:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-02T13:17:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-29T06:56:00.000-07:00

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

2008-12-23T12:31:00.000-08:00

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

The campaign starts amid great enthusiasm

2008-12-17T08:35:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-12-10T07:14:00.000-08:00

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

Those volunteers we cross on our path

2008-12-01T08:07:00.000-08:00

Calabar, November 27, 2008

Before heading to the field next week for the pre-campaign, I spent my first week in Nigeria in Calabar meeting the Nigerian Red Cross and all the partners working towards the success of the ‘Child Survival Campaign’. Unlike Togo where the Canadian Red Cross is doing a second round of net distributions to children under 5 years old, Nigeria is in its first round and massive collaboration is required.

Today, I would like to introduce you to a volunteer I have met several times.

His name is Ibeabuch Chukwuma Anthony, but everyone calls him Chuma. He lives in Calabar, Nigeria, he is a volunteer, and he has a passion… the Red Cross.

It all started in 1994, fourteen years after he was born. Just liked millions of people around the world, Chuma was shocked by the unfolding of the Rwandese tragedy. Although he was still very young and did not realize it at the time, he feels that day changed his life. He started paying attention to the small world around him, but also being concerned with what was happening elsewhere in the wide world. He studied international relations at school and his interest for the international humanitarian sector kept on growing.

In 2007, Chuma joined the local branch of the Red Cross in Calabar, Nigeria. Since day one, he never stopped being involved in several activities. He has put his name down to take first aid, disaster management and other trainings offered by the Red Cross movement. This weekend, he is heading out to the Annual International Mountain Race held every year in northern Cross River State. He and other Red Cross volunteers will provide first aid to injured participants. As we were talking, he showed me all the pictures and certificates he has proudly accumulated in just over a year with the Red Cross.

Chuma not only spends his time with the Red Cross, but also writes poetry. He confides that when he is moved by misery and when he sees children suffering, poetry helps him. He has a book filled with poems.

As we were ending our conversation he shared a secret with me. On December 8th, on the occasion of the inaugural day of the child survival campaign, he will dedicate a poem to the Canadian Red Cross. This is a secret!

Les volontaires dont nous croisons le chemin
Calabar, le 27 novembre 2008
Avant de partir sur le terrain pour couvrir la pré-campagne, j’ai passé ma première semaine à Calabar, à rencontrer la Croix-Rouge du Nigéria ainsi que tous les partenaires qui travaillent au succès de la campagne de survie des enfants. Contrairement au Togo où la Croix-Rouge canadienne en est à sa deuxième distribution de moustiquaires destinées aux enfants de moins de 5 ans, au Nigéria il s’agit de la première fois et ça implique une collaboration massive.

Aujourd’hui, je voudrais vous présenter un bénévole que j’ai rencontré à plusieurs reprises cette semaine.

Il s’appelle Ibeachuch Chukwuma Anthony, mais c’est Chuma pour les intimes. Il habite à Calabar au Nigéria, il est un bénévole, et il a une passion … la Croix-Rouge.

Tout a débuté en 1994, 14 ans après sa naissance. Malgré son jeune âge, tout comme des millions de personnes de par le monde, il a été bouleversé par la tragédie rwandaise. Aujourd’hui avec le recul, il est convaincu que cette période contribua à changer sa vie. À partir de ce moment, il s’intéressa davantage au monde qui l’entourait mais également au monde dans un sens plus large. Il entreprit des études en relations internationales et son intérêt pour le secteur humanitaire alla en s’accroissant.

En 2007, Chuma se joint à la branche locale de la Croix-Rouge du Nigéria. Depuis la première journée, son implication et son dévouement n’ont jamais diminué. En un peu plus d’une année, il a accumulé des formations en premier secours, en gestion des catastrophes, et plusieurs autres offertes par le Mouvement de la Croix-Rouge. Ce week-end, il est en route pour la Compétition internationale annuelle de course en montagne qui se tient chaque année au nord de l’état de Cross River. En compagnie d’autres volontaires de la Croix-Rouge, il sera sur place pour administrer les premiers soins aux participants en cas de blessures. Alors que nous parlons, il me montre fièrement les photos et certificats accumulés depuis qu’il s’est joint à la Croix-Rouge.
Chuma n’a pas qu’une passion. Lorsqu’il n’est pas à la Croix-Rouge, il consacre son temps à écrire des poèmes. La poésie l’aide à soulager sa peine face à la misère et à la souffrance infligée aux enfants. Des poèmes, il en a écrit par dizaines mais celui qui lui tient le plus à cœur, il le réserve pour la journée du lancement officiel de la campagne pour la survie des enfants. Il m’a confié un secret. Lors de cette journée, il dédiera un poème à la Croix-Rouge canadienne pour son implication. D’ici là, c’est un secret !

Posted for France Hurtubise.

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

2008-11-28T11:56:00.000-08:00

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

The women in my neighborhood

2008-11-18T08:09:00.000-08:00

November 17, 2008

Ayi Malou … Ayi Malou! children are yelling at the top of their voices. Ayi Malou is the name they have given to an outstanding woman in my neighborhood. The words actually mean rice and beans. Every day, this woman sets her rickety shop at the junction of two dusty streets, sitting behind her rented counter with smoking pots. She has decided on her own to help those who cannot afford to feed themselves properly. Her customers are mostly local children who arrive with their own tin pans. For a symbolic price, just enough to cover the cost, they will receive a ladleful of beans and rice. This woman is one of many who live in this multi-ethnic district of Lomé … which also happens to be my own neighborhood.

Of all missions I have carried out for the Red Cross in the past, I cannot think of one when I lived in such intimate relationship with the local people. One of the reasons one joins the Red Cross for humanitarian work is that one wishes to be close to those who are in need in order to understand their situation. I love this neighborhood because it constantly reminds me why I am here.

At daybreak, even before the sun is up, women everywhere are already at work. Some are busy sweeping away any rubbish around their homes, others are making fire for the morning meal, while keeping an eye on the little ones pulling at their bubus.

The women in my neighborhood come from all over the country. The latest statistics, which date back ten years, show that one-third of the population lives in poverty and that the most affected regions are Cara and Savannes, just north of the capital. Near my home are a group of some thirty women who are now living here. They came from a small village by the name of Vogan north of Lomé in order to earn a living. They have left their men up there and are running a small hotel. While the men till the land in the village, the women move to the capital to live on odd jobs or set up small shops. They are the ones who pay the price of being away from home in order to earn what the family needs to live on.

When night falls, water carriers, slow-moving women with pails on the top of their heads, go around selling this precious commodity that we all need. Again, official statistics say that 57% of households in urban areas do not have access to drinkable water, and that 80% of Togolese homes do not have a latrine.

The women I meet in the morning as I go to work, and again when I come back home, the women with whom I exchange a smile or a few words, are very courageous. And they are the women in my neighbourhood.

Les femmes de mon quartier

le 17 novembre 2008

Ayi Malou … Ayi Malou ! crient des enfants à tue-tête. Ayi Malou est le nom que les enfants ont donné à cette femme exemplaire du quartier où j’habite. Ayi Malou veut dire du riz et des haricots. Tous les jours, cette femme s’installe derrière son comptoir de fortune qu’elle loue pour une bouchée de pain, Assise au croisement de deux rues poussiéreuses, elle surveille ses chaudrons fumant de nourriture. Cette femme a décidé d’elle-même qu’il fallait s’occuper de ceux qui n’avaient pas les moyens de se nourrir convenablement. Sa clientèle se compose essentiellement d’enfants du coin qui arrivent avec leur gamelle. Contre une somme symbolique, juste assez pour payer les frais, ils reçoivent une louche pleine de haricots et de riz. Cette femme est l’une de ces femmes qui peuplent ce quartier multiethnique de Lomé… qui est aussi mon quartier!

Depuis que je fais des missions avec la Croix-Rouge, je ne me souviens pas d’avoir habité dans un quartier où la proximité avec les habitants est si intime. L’une des raisons pour lesquelles on se joint à la Croix-Rouge pour effectuer des missions humanitaires est qu’on veut être près des gens afin de comprendre pourquoi on est là. J’aime bien ce quartier, car il me rappelle constamment les raisons pour lesquelles je suis ici.

Le matin aux aurores, avant même le lever du soleil, les femmes sont déjà au travail. Certaines s’affairent à balayer autour de leur modeste maison, d’autres font du feu pour la préparation du repas, tout en veillant sur les tout-petits qui s’accrochent à leur boubou.

Les femmes de mon quartier viennent de l’ensemble du pays. Selon les dernières statistiques, qui datent de plus de dix ans, le tiers de la population est pauvre et les régions les plus touchées sont Cara et Savannes, situées au nord de la capitale. Tout près de chez moi, il y a un groupe d’une trentaine de femmes qui ont élu domicile. Elles sont venues d’une bourgade au nord de Lomé, Vogan, pour gagner leur pain. Elles ont laissé leurs hommes là-bas et gèrent un petit hôtel local. Pendant que les hommes labourent la terre dans leur village, les femmes s’installent dans la capitale pour faire des petits boulots ou ouvrir un commerce. En effet, ce sont souvent les femmes qui font le sacrifice et s’expatrient pour nourrir la famille.

À la tombée de la nuit, les porteuses d’eau coiffées de leur seau sillonnent les rues pour vendre cette denrée essentielle. Toujours selon les données officielles, 57% des ménages des régions urbaines n’ont pas accès à l’eau potable et 80% des maisons togolaises ne disposent pas de latrines.

Ces femmes croisées le matin avant de me rendre au travail ou encore le soir à mon retour, et avec qui j’échange un sourire ou un bonjour, sont bien courageuses. Ces femmes, et bien d’autres, ce sont les femmes de mon quartier !

Posted for France Hurtubise

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

2008-11-17T07:51:00.000-08:00

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 !

2008-11-12T06:56:00.000-08:00

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, October 3 2008

2008-10-06T06:19:00.001-07:00

My last days in Togo were wonderful! I had the pleasure of organizing a beautiful event with the Togolese Red Cross which connected Togolese and Québécois children.

It all began a few weeks ago when I was contacted by my colleagues from the Red Cross in Québec. They had been approached by two schools that had collected funds for the Canadian Red Cross malaria program. Given that we are working in Togo, precisely as part of the global fight against malaria, we decided to organize an activity that would allow children from two parts of the world to get in touch with each other; they are connected by an act of altruism: collecting funds for an important cause.

Over 30 children participated in the event; they attend regularly the Togolese Red Cross School in Lomé. The oldest ones presented a sketch on how to protect children against malaria and how to use a mosquito net. They all sang, clapped and then made drawings for their new Canadian friends.

It was a joyful session full of color and hope and it took place right before my departure. Upon my return to Québec, I will give the generous fundraisers the letters and drawings that were made with love and gratefulness by their Togolese pairs.

Posted for Nathalia Guerrero

Lomé, le 3 octobre 2008
Mes derniers jours au Togo étaient fantastiques. De concert avec la Croix-Rouge togolaise, j’ai eu le plaisir d’organiser une activité magnifique qui a lié des enfants togolais à de jeunes Québécois.

Tout a commencé il y a quelques semaines, lorsque j’ai été contactée par mes collègues de la Croix-Rouge du Québec. Deux écoles qui avaient amassé des fonds pour le programme de lutte contre la malaria de la Croix-Rouge canadienne avaient, en effet, pris contact avec le bureau de la Croix-Rouge du Québec. Étant donné que nous menions une mission au Togo, dans le cadre de la lutte mondiale contre la malaria, nous avons décidé d’organiser une activité qui permettrait aux enfants de ces deux coins du monde d’être en contact. Ces enfants étaient unis par un acte d’altruisme : des fonds recueillis pour une cause importante.

Plus de 30 enfants, qui fréquentent régulièrement l’école de la Croix-Rouge togolaise à Lomé, ont participé à cette activité. Les plus grands ont présenté un croquis sur la manière de protéger les enfants contre la malaria et la façon d’utiliser une moustiquaire. L’ensemble des enfants ont chanté, frappé des mains et fait des dessins pour leurs nouveaux amis canadiens.

Ainsi, juste avant mon départ, j’ai eu la chance d’assister à cet événement joyeux, empli de couleurs et d’espoir. Dès mon retour au Québec, je remettrai aux généreux collecteurs de fonds les lettres et les dessins que leurs pairs togolais leur ont préparés avec amour et gratitude.

Nathalia Guerrero

Lomé September 15, 2008

2008-09-24T13:59:00.000-07:00

I was lucky to visit some of the communities where Red Cross volunteers live and work before leaving Togo.
Villagers played music for us and prepared delicious meals consisting of African cuscus, chicken and palm wine. Their generosity made a very strong impression on me; they have so little and yet were ready to share it all with us. We ate abundantly; it would have been unacceptable for us to refuse the delicacies made by the women of the community with such care and effort.

In Koloware, central Togo, I had a wonderful time eating delicious food, singing songs, and even received an unexpected yet much honoured marriage proposal (unfortunately I had to decline).

In the community of Evou Apégamé, in the region of Plateaux, the religious leader asked me to remember him and his village, while holding my hand tightly and looking firmly into my eyes. These are moments that become unforgettable memories.

Posted for: Nathalia Guerrero

Lomé, le 15 septembre 2008

Avant de quitter le Togo, j’ai eu la chance de pouvoir me rendre au sein des collectivités où vivent et travaillent les bénévoles de la Croix-Rouge.

Les villageois ont joué de la musique en notre honneur et préparé un délicieux repas qui se composait d’un couscous africain, de poulet et de vin de palme. J’ai été très impressionnée par la générosité de ces personnes qui n’avaient que très peu de nourriture, mais qui étaient prêtes à tout partager avec nous.

À Koloware, au centre du Togo, j’ai passé un excellent moment à déguster des plats délicieux, à chanter des chansons et à recevoir une demande en mariage, qui m’a beaucoup honorée et surprise (et que j’ai malheureusement dû refuser!).

Dans la collectivité d’Evou Apégamé, dans la région des Plateaux, le chef religieux m’a demandé, en me tenant fermement la main et en me regardant fixement dans les yeux, de ne pas l’oublier, lui et son village. De tels moments deviennent des souvenirs inoubliables.

Lomé, September 12, 2008

My days in Togo are coming to an end. A few weeks from now my mission will be over and I will travel back to Canada. I have a mixture of feelings about this.

On one hand, I am glad to go back and see all the people that I love and miss. On the other hand, it is going to be sad to say goodbye to the people that I have learned to love here, such as my friend and colleague Dr Battah, the Togolese Red Cross doctor with whom I have worked throughout the last five months.

During my last visit to the field, while traveling across the regions of Togo and contemplating the beauty of its green valleys and mountains, I said farewell to all the wonderful people I have met here. In my mind and heart, I wished the Togolese a prosperous and better future.This mission has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life, both personally and professionally. I am grateful to have had the chance to know this country and live here during five months of my life. This chapter is coming to an end and a new adventure announces itself. Beginnings and ends, this is the cycle of life on earth.

Lomé, le 12 septembre 2008

Mon séjour au Togo touche à sa fin. En effet, dans quelques semaines, ma mission sera terminée et je rentrerai au Canada. J’ai des sentiments partagés à l’égard de ce départ du Togo.

D’une part, je suis contente de rentrer au Canada et de revoir toutes les personnes que j’aime et qui m’ont manqué. Mais d’autre part, je suis triste de devoir dire au revoir aux gens que j’ai appris à aimer ici, comme mon ami et collègue le Dr Battah, le docteur de la Croix-Rouge togolaise, avec qui j’ai travaillé ces cinq derniers mois.

Lors de ma dernière visite sur le terrain, alors que je me déplaçais à travers les régions du Togo et que je contemplais la beauté de ses vertes vallées et montagnes, j’ai dit au revoir à toutes les merveilleuses personnes que j’ai rencontrées lors de ma mission. De tout mon cœur, je souhaite au Togo un avenir prospère et plus radieux.

Cette mission a été l’une des expériences les plus enrichissantes de ma vie, au niveau personnel et professionnel. Je suis très reconnaissante d’avoir eu la chance de découvrir ce pays et d’y vivre cinq mois de ma vie. Ce chapitre touche à sa fin et une nouvelle aventure s’annonce. Un début et une fin, tel est le cycle de la vie sur terre.

Lomé, August 10, 2008

2008-09-24T13:57:00.000-07:00

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, August 6, 2008

2008-09-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

Togo has seen really heavy rains in the last couple of days. During the rainy season, floods are a yearly ritual in Togo but this year they’ve come sooner than expected. Some of the inhabitants of Lomé consider the floods to be the result of water melting from the polar ice caps in Canada which has found its way here through the oceans and the rivers; others perceive it as a sign that the apocalypse is coming soon.

Dozens of villages are flooded and the main bridge that connects the north and the south of the country fell down a few days ago. Farmers have lost their crops and there is a general fear as the effects of higher international fuel prices are already causing price increases in the costs of basic products such as corn, bread and rice. For a population that lives with less than a dollar per day, the combination of the two phenomena could have devastating effects.

Last weekend, I visited flooded neighbourhoods in the outskirts of Lomé with my colleagues from the Togolese Red Cross. The situation here has obliged people to leave their homes and take refuge elsewhere. It is striking to see entire families making their way through the water trying to save their goods and properties.

People affected by the inundations find it hard to believe that this year’s floods might hit them as hard as they did last year; the country hasn’t yet had time to recover from the human and material losses it faced in 2007. Fortunately, they are not alone. Local and international humanitarian organizations working in Togo are mobilizing to support the people affected by the floods.

Posted for: Nathalia Guerrero

Lomé, le 6 août 2008
Des pluies torrentielles se sont abattues sur le Togo ces derniers jours. Chaque année, durant la saison des pluies, le Togo est aux prises avec des inondations. Et cette année, elles sont arrivées plus tôt que prévu. Certains des habitants de Lomé croient que les inondations sont causées par la fonte des calottes glaciaires au Canada, qui gonflent le niveau des océans et des rivières; pour d’autres, elles sont un signe de l’approche de l’apocalypse.

Des douzaines de villages sont inondés et le plus important pont reliant le nord et le sud du pays s’est effondré il y a quelques jours. Les fermiers ont perdu leurs récoltes. De plus, on redoute les effets de l’augmentation des prix du carburant à l’échelle internationale, qui a déjà entraîné la hausse des prix des produits de base, comme le maïs, le pain et le riz. Pour une population vivant avec moins d’un dollar par jour, la combinaison de ces deux phénomènes a eu des effets dévastateurs.

Le weekend dernier, des collègues de la Croix-Rouge togolaise m’ont fait visiter des quartiers inondés en banlieue de Lomé. La situation est telle, que les résidants ont dû quitter leur domicile et trouver refuge ailleurs. Il est troublant de voir des familles entières s’affairant dans l’eau à sauver leurs biens.

Les sinistrés ont de la difficulté à croire que les inondations de cette année sont aussi sévères que celles de l’année dernière. En effet, le pays ne s’est pas encore remis des pertes humaines et matérielles subies en 2007. Heureusement, ils ne sont pas laissés à eux-mêmes. Des organismes humanitaires locaux et internationaux présents au Togo se mobilisent afin de soutenir les personnes sinistrées par ces inondations.

Nathalia Guerrero

Lomé, July 14, 2008

2008-09-24T13:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

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 20 2008

2008-09-24T13:46:00.000-07:00

The rainy season recently started in the southern regions of Togo. It’s been three weeks since I’ve arrived in Lomé and began to discover the ways of the Togolese people.

I’ve rarely felt as welcome as I do here and this gives a special warm feeling to my experience. Kindness and politeness are values deeply rooted in the local costumes.

The weather in Lomé is warm and extremely humid. The proximity of the ocean adds an occasional breeze that refreshes the atmosphere of a busy city, full of colors, smells, vehicles and motorbikes. Luckily, this is the mango and avocado season and I recently tried “fufu”, a local delicacy made from manioc.

In certain areas of the city, you can find beautiful and gracefully organized plantations of fruits and vegetables to be sold in the local market ‘le Grand Marché’. People in the fields work very hard every day to earn their daily bread.

The political situation of the country is more or less stable but poverty, like malaria, is endemic in this West-African country. As a consequence, criminality and banditry are common in the streets of Lomé after the sun sets down.

Tomorrow will be another day. By the end of my mission, I will have spent eight months in Togo. My colleagues say that, by that time, I will have become a Togolese, one of them. I find this to be a really sweet wish because it means we are accepted the way we are, regardless of our cultural differences. I am a Colombian citizen living in Canada and working abroad. Rather than pertaining to a particular place I feel like a citizen of the world and, aren’t we all…
Posted for: Nathalia Guerrero

Lomé, May 7, 2008

2008-09-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-24T13:42:00.000-07:00

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