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July 12, 2007

Meeting the Partners, VIPs and seeing Freetown in One Week (July 2 to July 9, 2007)

Our direct collaborating partners for the project are UNICEF Freetown, the Chief with his people of Sahn Malen village, and the District Medical Officer with his District Health team. With elections just around the corner in August, we intend to be finished with the project so that we can relax on the beach as we receive results after a hopefully free and fair election. In between our meetings, we caught glimpses of parades held by the three major political parties: The Sierra Leone's People's Party, the All People's Congress, and the Positive Movement for Democratic Change. We sometimes would walk one of the many beaches during the lovely two-mile journey, often discussing ideas related to our project.

First stop was a meeting with the Health Unit director, Dr. Kedric Kiawong. He is the individual with whom we struck a deal that will allow us to receive the 700 Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN). UNICEF is already involved in ITN distribution to under-fives and pregnant women together with the Ministry of Health (MOH) in various parts of the country. We were assured after the hour-long meeting that we would be allocated the requested number of ITNs for the project and that in fact, the very nets were in a location only an hour away from Sahn Malen. Most important was the fact that UNICEF will await results we get in this village, and success will influence their next national distribution strategy. If we show that we can reduce the overall prevalence of malaria after our strategy, it would be worth expanding in other villages and districts and possibly the country. We agreed that our questionnaires and other data collecting tools would be those either used or approved by UNICEF and the MOH.

From Dr. Kiawong's office, it took us a whole day to move to the UNICEF Representative's office across the hallway. We finally arrived at 9 am, and with a warm smile the Rep, Geert Cappalaere from Belgium, welcomed us into his office. We discussed our project with him in detail and as the head of UNICEF, he assured us of their full support and cooperation. He also expressed his interest in the results we shall receive. We quickly pointed out that the process would last for three years but he was so involved in the project that he saw this as a very short time for a positive result. With Geert, we also discussed a future project called "Être; the face of Human Rights." This is a traveling Human Rights exhibition sponsored by the Swiss Foreign Affairs and its consulates around the world. It has been agreed in principle that a future location will be Freetown and our job here includes finding partners, location, and time period in which the exhibition will visit Sierra Leone among others. Rest assured that Geert will be at the exhibition when it arrives here.

The same day, we had another appointment with the District Medical Officer of Pujehun district, Dr. Samba. It was a very brief but informative meeting. Showing his appreciation for having this pilot project in his District, he assured us of the full support of his team. We stressed the fact that it will be him and his team that will take this project from a mediocre level to an excellent one. Once we leave, it will be them that will be involved with collecting relevant data and ensuring that the recipients indeed use the ITNs. We also discussed logistical issues and how the money we had would be utilized to make the best of the project over the next three years. It is a very small sum but it seems like this would not be a major issue in a project that could be expanded - if successful - to other districts. We set up an appointment with his medical team in Pujehun for Friday, July 13, and he assured us that he would be in Sahn Malen to see the beginning of the project.

We ended the already jammed day with another meeting. At 3 pm that day, we met with the Chief of Sahn Malen. Chief Kebbie was very happy about the project and we all agreed about a general village meeting upon our arrival in about a week. We also decided that he will use his influence to optimize the use of the nets as well as promote other preventive techniques like brushing down the forests and draining all stagnant water. We will buy the tools needed with the project money and they will produce the manpower required to clean the village. We also discussed the possibility of organizing football games between all the nine villages in the Chiefdom during which we can have malaria sensitization campaigns. Again, a fruitful discussion, sending us scavenging mango for dinner!

As for other unofficial meetings that came along, we were sure to crack jokes with government ministers including those of Education and Works and Rehabilitation. In between all these, we also got a glimpse at the real VIPs - the people. We got swarmed up by oceans of Green, Red and Orange - each symbolizing major political party colors during rallies for the upcoming presidential elections. Walking down the streets amidst songs and dancing was something unique to African cultures and being able to share and experience this in peace once more was a great gift to Sierra Leone. On all separate days, everyone was mindful of their language against the opposition and up to the official start of campaigns, there are all indications that the election will be free and fair.

Finally, why not end the week on the beach? Well we did!