Malaria and Miirya
on Mangos, Monkeys and Maggie (Uganda), 08/Dec/2008 19:29, 34 days ago
THE FIRST NET TO BE SOLDTHE NETS ARRIVED FROM RWANDATRAINING OF VILLAGE VOLUNTEERSToday has been a good day (apart from the 45 minutes at the police station but thats another story)We received 1000 mosquito nets on friday. They arrived at 6.30 at night on the bus from Kamapala. They were unceremoniously dumped at the local filling station and so we had to borrow a pick up to get them up to the house.1000 nets take up a fair amount of space and weigh a lot. How Sam managed to get them here all the way from Rwanda I do not know but he did and this is our first consignment. Hopefully if the fund raising goes well we shall order more soon.Today was a good day because we went to Rwemagali village and sold nets. Last week the village volunteer Harriet had been sensitising and mobilising in the village. She had put up posters and talked to people about nets and why they are necessary. Today when we arrived there were over 100 people sitting around waiting for nets.Rwemagali is a small village with 269 households containing 1900 people.So we had about a third of the households represented. Our three malarial focal people,Sally,Anna and Donetta gave their talk using posters that Pam had prepared. This goes through what causes malaria, how it affects you and how you can prevent it. Every one sat quietly and listened but when they asked for questions they were politely told to get on with selling the nets.We sold 130 nets for 3000 ush each.So tonight hopefully those nets will be in use and people will be protected.Without the project there would be no nets for Miirya.Tomorrow two more villagers will be visited.Pam goes home on Sunday to raise funds for the project.We have to keep motivating the volunteers and make sure we get more nets to sell. It is a challenge but probably the most useful thing I can do in Uganda.Thanks to every one who has so generously donated through just giving.