Sunday, November 25th, 2007
This will be my very last blog. Even typing that makes me sad. I knew it was going to be over at some point, but I am wishing it was not going to be. I wish I could stay longer, do more work, and form even more relationships. At the same time, I know I have to return, not only to go back to my normal routine of work, and life, but to bring home my story, what I have seen, what I have learned, and what needs to be done. I need to raise more money, to get more nets, to save more lives.
I have seen more that I ever thought possible. I have watched, and listened, and worked with a very heavy heart. My heart aches with the thought of not having a tiny hand grabbing at mine, just walking down the dirt road. The faces of the smiling mothers, knowing why we are here, what we are doing, and what we have done. The street vendors, the cows on the road, the roaming chickens, the smiling happy faces of some of the poorest people in the world.
I do not want to come home, but I must. I have been sad at the thoughts of making the trip, but happy at everything I have gained from this. I can't believe I came to Uganda to distribute mosquito nets, really. A mosquito net...who would have thought it would save so many lives? Well...Debra Lefebvre did! I would not be here if it was not for her. I would not have been here if I had not met her husband who spoke of the project when I was at the dentist. There are no accidents. I was meant to meet her, to be inspired by her, and to work with her on this project. I am very grateful for everything that has happened. I feel like I gained more from this than anything else I have ever done. I got more from the people here than I can even tell you. Thank you Deb, for everything you have taught me.
It is very hard to walk away, but I know I will be back...I will. This was just my first trip to Uganda, and I made sure I told everyone I would see them again.
To each and every one of you, thank you for all of your support over the past month, and emails from home. I hope I was able to place my story into your hearts and you felt like I brought your here, even for a moment. Thank you for believing in an organization that is changing the lives of so many, and thank you for each and every net, in the prevention of malaria, one village at a time!
The Queen said it herself...
"Do unto other as you would have them do unto you!"
See you back in Canada.
Aching hearted, Nancy
Sunday, November 25, 2007
A Pleasant Surprise
Friday, November 23rd, 2007
I am sorry it has been so long since I have updated the blog. The connection here is hit and miss, but not to worry, the BAN team is fine, and working hard.
What a wonderful day! Vanessa Hynes and Senator Mobina Jaffer joined the BAN team at the Mulago hospital. We were joined by a team of Doctors and Nurses on A1, ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat)Cancer treatment ward. 50 nets were distributed and hung to protect the sick from contracting malaria. The ward is on the first floor, behind a swampy area. Despite all efforts to control the mosquito's, these patients would be compromised without the nets we provided.
They were so happy to have the security of being protected. It was like Christmas for them. The are very ill, and now have one less thing to worry about. While speaking with the doctors, they said that it is not uncommon for the patients to die of malaria, as apposed to cancer.
Senator Jaffer inspected the ward, spoke to patients, and even handed out teddy bears to the children that were brought by the BAN team. She was very impressed with how quickly and efficiently the nets were delivered and hung. It was a true pleasure to meet her and have her see the work done by BUY-A-NET. It was a wonderful day at the hospital, and for all of us to share in this together, the BAN team, the doctors and nurses, but most of all, the patients who really needed us!
Love Nancy
I am sorry it has been so long since I have updated the blog. The connection here is hit and miss, but not to worry, the BAN team is fine, and working hard.
What a wonderful day! Vanessa Hynes and Senator Mobina Jaffer joined the BAN team at the Mulago hospital. We were joined by a team of Doctors and Nurses on A1, ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat)Cancer treatment ward. 50 nets were distributed and hung to protect the sick from contracting malaria. The ward is on the first floor, behind a swampy area. Despite all efforts to control the mosquito's, these patients would be compromised without the nets we provided.
They were so happy to have the security of being protected. It was like Christmas for them. The are very ill, and now have one less thing to worry about. While speaking with the doctors, they said that it is not uncommon for the patients to die of malaria, as apposed to cancer.
Senator Jaffer inspected the ward, spoke to patients, and even handed out teddy bears to the children that were brought by the BAN team. She was very impressed with how quickly and efficiently the nets were delivered and hung. It was a true pleasure to meet her and have her see the work done by BUY-A-NET. It was a wonderful day at the hospital, and for all of us to share in this together, the BAN team, the doctors and nurses, but most of all, the patients who really needed us!
Love Nancy
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
BAN makes the news!
New Vision Newspaper, CHOGM Special
Monday, Novemeber 19th, 2007
(it reads like this)
Residents get mosquito nets in Mbarara
A Canadian-based NGO, BUY-A-NET, has donated over 400 insecdicide-treated mosquito nets to children and expectant women in Nyarubungo, Rwampara country. The project director, Nancy Stevens, last week said, the nets would help reduce the child mortality rate. "The biggest percentage of children who die before the age of five, die of malaria." The district Chairman, Wilberforce Yaguma, thanked the group for the donation.
So, that's the newspaper article. We were pleasantly surprised to see that it made the paper. People know we are here, they know why, and they know what we are going to do. We form relationships with the people here,and we are welcomed with open arms. I can't tell you enough, the difference these nets are making in prevention of malaria, and death!
Love to you all, Nancy
Monday, Novemeber 19th, 2007
(it reads like this)
Residents get mosquito nets in Mbarara
A Canadian-based NGO, BUY-A-NET, has donated over 400 insecdicide-treated mosquito nets to children and expectant women in Nyarubungo, Rwampara country. The project director, Nancy Stevens, last week said, the nets would help reduce the child mortality rate. "The biggest percentage of children who die before the age of five, die of malaria." The district Chairman, Wilberforce Yaguma, thanked the group for the donation.
So, that's the newspaper article. We were pleasantly surprised to see that it made the paper. People know we are here, they know why, and they know what we are going to do. We form relationships with the people here,and we are welcomed with open arms. I can't tell you enough, the difference these nets are making in prevention of malaria, and death!
Love to you all, Nancy
A Day Off
Sunday, November 18th
Today was a lovely day off. We went to church and then decided to go into the market areas of Kampala. It was crazy busy! People eveywhere. It poured rain on and off all day, and we were soaked. We were walking towards the taxi park and low and behold, there was a stage area in the park, at performers were practising for CHOGM. The arrival of the Queen is upon us, and the children were doing a full dress rehersal. We were so excited to watch. They were in full costume, and the drummers were amazing. The children danced like I have never seen before. I was so happy to be seeing this. It was amazing. I was very glad to see such happy and healthy children.
Beautiful day in Uganda.
Today was a lovely day off. We went to church and then decided to go into the market areas of Kampala. It was crazy busy! People eveywhere. It poured rain on and off all day, and we were soaked. We were walking towards the taxi park and low and behold, there was a stage area in the park, at performers were practising for CHOGM. The arrival of the Queen is upon us, and the children were doing a full dress rehersal. We were so excited to watch. They were in full costume, and the drummers were amazing. The children danced like I have never seen before. I was so happy to be seeing this. It was amazing. I was very glad to see such happy and healthy children.
Beautiful day in Uganda.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
4 DIE IN CITY FLOODS
This was the worst rain flooding in history. Houses were flooded to window level. 3 children died when the floods collapsed their hut and they drowned inside. One man died when the waters came into his home and he was electrocuted. The downpour effected Entebbe, Jinga, Mbale, Mityana, Masaka, and the Kampala-Entebbe Highway.
This is a malaria disaster zone. These children need our help. I will have you know, you thought I was a fire ball before...just wait until I get back. There is so much more we can do, and it has to be done. We are the MALARIA PREVENTION GROUP...and that is what we have to do, prevent these deaths from happening. A simple bed net will save their lives. Spread the word, say it loud, say it clear. If you tell one person who does not know what a preventable disease this is, they can save a life.
Watch out...I am coming home with new footage, and new photographs that will make you proud to be a part of this team, and make you want to do more....
Love to you all,
Your little fire ball from Kingston
This is a malaria disaster zone. These children need our help. I will have you know, you thought I was a fire ball before...just wait until I get back. There is so much more we can do, and it has to be done. We are the MALARIA PREVENTION GROUP...and that is what we have to do, prevent these deaths from happening. A simple bed net will save their lives. Spread the word, say it loud, say it clear. If you tell one person who does not know what a preventable disease this is, they can save a life.
Watch out...I am coming home with new footage, and new photographs that will make you proud to be a part of this team, and make you want to do more....
Love to you all,
Your little fire ball from Kingston
..and the rains came down...
Friday, Nov. 15th
Last night it rained, and did not stop. It started at 2am, and did not stop until 10am. SO many things go through your head when this happens. Flooding, villages at the bottom of hills, pit latrines over-flowing...and the wort, mosquito's breeding. Standing water, the best breeding ground for the mosquito. Malaria is going to run wild.
As we drove to the Kamuli area to visit some people who received our nets, we started passing by trucks over turned in large pools of water, water rushing down roads, and overturned market stands. We knew it was going to be terrible, but had no idea...
We arrived at the Woman, Caring & Counselling Group to visit Ron Casselman who was volunteering there from the Gananoque Rotary Club. They have received nets from BUY-A-NET, and we wanted to pay them a visit. The woman welcomed us with open arms and were very thankful. Alot of the woman have AIDS at the shelter, and they know that if they get malaria, they will die. They have low immune systems, and will die from a simple mosquito bite. Who then will take care of their children. It is a vicious cycle.
We walked through the village to visit some homes and see the nets hanging. We came across a home that was an 87 year old, blind, granny (JAJA), who was taking care of her grandchildren. Her daughter had died, and there was no one to raise the children. She was a beautiful and proud woman. BAN saved her precious grand babies, and she let us know just how she felt about it!
As we walked through the area, we were noticing more and more standing water. Mosquito's. That word was trolling through my brain...it was like a bad head ache that would not go away...Mosquito's....
There were people taking buckets of mud from there homes, that had rolled down the hill, with all of the garbage, and into their little home. SO many people have holes in their roofs that everything inside was soaking, and standing water was everywhere.
It's a hard thing to swallow...you save so many lives with one net, then you move on to the next area and see the devastation. But the great thing is, that is what BAN does best..." one village at a time "...and we have to continue to think that way, and work that way. It is working so well. For all of the bad we see, there are hundreds and hundreds of lives that were saved by all of us. Really we just have to look at it in a smaller scale. Yes, there are millions of nets needed to cover Africa, and yes, I am seeing alot of people in need, but we have saved so many lives, and we will continue to do so, " one village at a time."
Last night it rained, and did not stop. It started at 2am, and did not stop until 10am. SO many things go through your head when this happens. Flooding, villages at the bottom of hills, pit latrines over-flowing...and the wort, mosquito's breeding. Standing water, the best breeding ground for the mosquito. Malaria is going to run wild.
As we drove to the Kamuli area to visit some people who received our nets, we started passing by trucks over turned in large pools of water, water rushing down roads, and overturned market stands. We knew it was going to be terrible, but had no idea...
We arrived at the Woman, Caring & Counselling Group to visit Ron Casselman who was volunteering there from the Gananoque Rotary Club. They have received nets from BUY-A-NET, and we wanted to pay them a visit. The woman welcomed us with open arms and were very thankful. Alot of the woman have AIDS at the shelter, and they know that if they get malaria, they will die. They have low immune systems, and will die from a simple mosquito bite. Who then will take care of their children. It is a vicious cycle.
We walked through the village to visit some homes and see the nets hanging. We came across a home that was an 87 year old, blind, granny (JAJA), who was taking care of her grandchildren. Her daughter had died, and there was no one to raise the children. She was a beautiful and proud woman. BAN saved her precious grand babies, and she let us know just how she felt about it!
As we walked through the area, we were noticing more and more standing water. Mosquito's. That word was trolling through my brain...it was like a bad head ache that would not go away...Mosquito's....
There were people taking buckets of mud from there homes, that had rolled down the hill, with all of the garbage, and into their little home. SO many people have holes in their roofs that everything inside was soaking, and standing water was everywhere.
It's a hard thing to swallow...you save so many lives with one net, then you move on to the next area and see the devastation. But the great thing is, that is what BAN does best..." one village at a time "...and we have to continue to think that way, and work that way. It is working so well. For all of the bad we see, there are hundreds and hundreds of lives that were saved by all of us. Really we just have to look at it in a smaller scale. Yes, there are millions of nets needed to cover Africa, and yes, I am seeing alot of people in need, but we have saved so many lives, and we will continue to do so, " one village at a time."
"Say it loud, say it clear"
Nov.14Th, on the way home from netting 10 villages, we decided to stop in and see the pediatric ward at the Mbararra University Hospital. SHOCKING! I can not express that enough. I have never seen anything like it! Shocking...
There were a dozen cribs, some with 2 babies in them. 80% of the children were suffering from malaria. Some babies have been in the hospital with malaria for 2 weeks and most likely will not make it out alive. The suffering was terrible. As I looked around the room, I saw only 2 nets. They need our help, these children are going to die. We need more nets, one village at a time, one hospital at a time, we have to do more. We need to do more and we CAN do more.
As great as you feel when you give 500 nets to the very needy, you soon realize how much more needs to be done. We have to do more, we just have to!
...broken hearted...
There were a dozen cribs, some with 2 babies in them. 80% of the children were suffering from malaria. Some babies have been in the hospital with malaria for 2 weeks and most likely will not make it out alive. The suffering was terrible. As I looked around the room, I saw only 2 nets. They need our help, these children are going to die. We need more nets, one village at a time, one hospital at a time, we have to do more. We need to do more and we CAN do more.
As great as you feel when you give 500 nets to the very needy, you soon realize how much more needs to be done. We have to do more, we just have to!
...broken hearted...
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