Week 16 – Mosquito Nets Everywhere

June 3 – June 10

After returning from my trip I worked with TAFCOM to make the final preparations for the welcoming event for the Malaria Group. There will be 16 people arriving from Minnesota to help distribute the 3,000 mosquito nets purchased through their fundraising efforts. The group is also visiting a Massai girls school, going on safari and climbing Kili.

Interestingly, I recently read an article which cited a government report stating that the under-5 mortality rate has substantially declined over the last decade from 147 deaths per 1,000 births in 1999 to 81 deaths per 1,000 births in 2010. This reduction is being partly attributed to advances in malaria, prevention, diagnosis and treatment along with the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets. Just maybe, this effort can help in lowering the number even further.

Lynne, the organizer, became involved in this project after coming to Tanzania for a visit and sending a trip update to her college alumni magazine. Concordia College contacted her as they have a program that supports a Massai girls school in Arusha and they provide college scholarships. The college wanted to expand their program and Lynne got involved with the Malaria project. She has two trips planned for alumni and families in January of 2013 and 2014 for the college with 40 people already signed up for the 2013 trip!

Lynne is also a CEO/Manager at RE/Max Real Estate in Minnesota and decided to contact their national and international corporate offices about getting involved in some fundraising efforts and trips. So in addition to the 2 Concordia groups she will also be leading groups of RE/Max folks in June of the next 2 years. Lynne laughingly commented that this touring has taken on a life of its own. It actually got me thinking about organizing a trip and we are going to discuss a possible RE/Max partnership with Central Ohio.

On Sunday Jonas picked me up and we arrived at the Children’s Center around 11am. The teaching staff and Tailoring Center women were already busy preparing lunch; the tent, table and chairs were set up; and the place looked awesome. Some of the children had started to arrive and most of the 40 students were all there by noon. We had promised them lunch if they came early to practice their program. I was really hoping to cut a chicken head but arrived too late – maybe another time! The kids were served rice, chicken, cabbage and bananas. I am sure for most of them this was quite a feast. I don’t want to consider how long it has been since they had meat, vegetables or even fruit. They even got a Fanta drink after the program. It was such a special day for everyone.

The program was to start at 3:00 but evidently the Malaria Group had fallen into Tanzanian time as they were an hour late. I was astonished at how well-behaved the kids were. I was so proud of them. As we were waiting, the men with the sound system were playing Bongo Flava music and the children were up and dancing. You could see the absolute delight in their faces as they sang and laughed and gyrated to each song. I felt sheer joy as I watched them, knowing that for this brief period of time nothing in the world mattered to these children and they knew the meaning of bliss.

Fortunately, we had padded our agenda and were able to accomplish everything we wanted in our 2 hour block. The group met staff and got a more in-depth picture of TAFCOM's programs; they took a tour of the grounds; and heard some testimonials. AND, of course, the children won their hearts with their performances. I was able to talk about my experience as a TAFCOM volunteer and found myself choking up several times. My passion runs deep and I wear my emotions on my sleeve.

Lynne 

Time was allotted so the group could purchase items made and exhibited by the tailoring women. Another table displayed TAFCOM program info and included profiles of the children and families involved with TAFCOM. A sponsorship form was available and 16 of the children had sponsors before the afternoon was over. Some of the group had collected funds from friends at home. We made sure they received the profiles and took pictures of each of the kids they will be sponsoring. It is  heartbreaking deciding which children to sponsor since all have been affected by AIDS and their stories tug at your heart. The program agenda concluded with a group picture and presentation of mosquito nets to the children. The Grand Finale turned out to be a surprise gift of a video camera for Nie and Jonas from Lynne and the group. Everything was superb and everyone was thoroughly pleased and impressed.

District Commissioner
Giving out Net

Govt Leaders & Staff

Wednesday was the first day for distribution of the mosquito nets and a kickoff event had been organized by Jonas. Government leaders from the areas receiving nets were present. The mayor of Moshi Municipal and the District Commissioner (oversees both Moshi Municipal and Moshi rural) also attended and gave speeches. The media showed up and storied appeared on both TV and radio as well as in the local paper. I was totally impressed; TAFCOM is such a professional class act. 

This little boy just came over
and sat on my lap for the longest time.
He broke his wrist running.

I love all the colors

Lynne was invited by the mayor to visit his office. TAFCOM staff attended and was introduced. (I got to be included in the staff group.) Benches were set up for the audience which included those families registered to receive nets. The District Commissioner handed out the nets. This was a really big deal.

People ride around like this all the time

At the conclusion of the kickoff cars and trucks were loaded with nets for the day's designated sites. The rest of the week was spent at different sites, mostly the local government office. The sites where I helped probably handed out 300 nets per day. TAFCOM staff and government leaders worked side by side to ensure that things went smoothly.

3,000 Mosquito Nets
(Insecticide Treated)

The most difficult part of the distribution was turning away those who had not registered. I often wondered how many nets would have been enough. Those who were unable to come on their designated day will be able to pick up their nets at the government leaders offices in their area.

One very interesting observation I wanted to share relates to breastfeeding. I am not sure why I have never noticed this here before but there is no discretion when it comes to breastfeeding. I must have witnessed at least 5 women openly breastfeeding their children during the kickoff event. I know there was some recent controversy in the US about a picture of a mom breastfeeding that appeared on a magazine cover. I did not read the media coverage nor see the picture so cannot comment. In Tanzania breastfeeding appears to be viewed as a natural act and doesn’t seem to bother anyone no matter how public it may be.

This outhouse was in the center
near the market

Njoro Market Center
(This is the poorest Ward in Moshi)

Govt Leaders Office Bathroom
(the doors are kept locked)

Even though our focus all week was on mosquito nets, the concerns of the people are relentless. Nie visited Rose who was not hospitalized but is still not healthy. She had a blood test on Friday and results will come back next week.

Veronica who is one of my favorites (and the one who refers to herself as the oldest woman in Moshi), was hospitalized this week. She has asthma and was having breathing problems. Nie visited her several times in the hospital. She is raising 2 grandchildren, ages 4 and 13. She has wonderful neighbors and we have to assume they cared for the grandchildren as well as visited Veronica to make sure she received food. I asked Nie what happens if someone is in the hospital and lacks funds for food. She said that neighbors and even other patients will help out. What it comes down to is the poor helping the poor. I frequently experience illustrations of the empathetic nature of the people here.

It felt like a whirlwind week and the weekend was a welcome break. I know for certain that Nie and Jonas were burning the candle at both ends.

Saturday was a great mental health day. Ibrah, Thomas and I went to Materuni Water falls. Fred, Deborah’s brother, was our guide and driver. Thomas is a volunteer from San Francisco who was with us for the week. He works for Mama Hope (http://www.mamahope.org/) and spent most of his time in Kenya. 

We hiked thru banana and coffee plantations as well as some of the most lush, green forest I have ever seen. It was somewhat foggy from the previous night’s rain which made the green hues even more pronounced. It was about an hour hike to the waterfalls and it was worth every wet, muddy and slippery step. We ate lunch at a little hut with the cool mist of the waterfall constantly spraying us. There were also avocado trees along the trail. We found a ripe avocado on the ground which we added to our lunch. 

Banana Tree

Ibrah, Thomas, Me & Fred at
Lunch Hut

Materuni River

Materuni Waterfall

Mo & Child on Trail

After our hike we drove to see a 500 year old Baobab tree. Legend has it that the tree was here before man and holds the spirits of ancestors. These trees are unlike anything I have ever seen. They can grow to be 100 foot tall and 35 feet wide. Their defining characteristic is the trunk which can store over 30,000 gallons of water. This website has a great description of the tree.

http://izzat-sajdi.blogspot.com/2007/09/baobab-tree-tanzania.html

Baobab Tree
From across the Road

You can an idea of the size.
Those are people to the left of the tree.

Me & Tree

Sadly, our weekend did not end well. One of the children from a neighboring road was hit by a car and killed. He was around 8 years old and ran across the road to meet his friends when he was hit. The accident occurred on one of the busier roads. There is no such thing as a stop light or stop sign here but one does see a variety of speed bumps in all shapes and sizes. Unfortunately there was not one on this area of the road. The residents seeing the need for something to slow traffic made quite a statement on Sunday. They brought large rocks and placed them across the road where the accident occurred to form a barrier and send the message that a speed bump is vital to the safety of the residents.

Road Protest