Malaria, Yellow Fever and Dysentery

And now for something unpleasant - Malaria, Yellow Fever and Dysentery. In some people, the thought of travel to foreign places, and especially Africa, can generate worries about exotic and deadly diseases. Everyone planning travel should become informed about the potential hazards of the countries they are traveling to and learn how to minimize any risk to their health.

Yellow fever is a vaccine-preventable illness caused by the bite of an infected daytime mosquito. Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes (night-flying). Anti-malarial drugs, taken before, during and after travel, are designed to prevent malaria. Traveler's diarrhea is the most common illness you're likely to experience while traveling. But traveler's diarrhea usually isn't serious — it's just unpleasant. Being careful about what you eat and drink can reduce your risk.

If you are planning to visit us in Tanzania, I would suggest that you make an appointment with the Public Health Unit Travel Clinic a couple of months before your trip. The travel clinic provides pre-travel counselling along with immunizations and medications needed to stay healthy while in Africa.

The well water on the Pamoja Base is safe, but as an extra precaution all drinking water is filtered through a Swiss-made ceramic filter system called the Katadyn Drip Ceradyn. We will be bringing one with us. It is a free-standing gravity filter with 3 ceramic filters and a 10 litre water container for large quantities of water. The ceramic filters have a micro porous structure with impregnated silver which delays the growth of bacteria. The pore-size of Katadyn ceramic filters is 0.2 micron. Bacteria range in size from 0.2 to 5 micron and like protozoa (1 -1 5 micron), are efficiently filtered out. NO WORRIES!!

Pamoja Ministries is working together with a Maasai-run organization called MAPED in the areas of Evangelism, Women's Rights, Health, HIV/AIDS Prevention, and Education for the Maasai. MAPED has formed a fabulous choir which is very effective in putting the message deep within the hearts of their people.

Jeremy Feser, Director of Operations for Pamoja Ministries, puts it this way:
"Today, Yona, Maliaki, Kadogo, Elisaba, Naitapwki, Isaac, and a few others, form the first generation of MAPED. There are about 14 people really really involved, and the rest of the Maasai community are involved to varying degrees. Some younger people, like Marco, Alanyuni, and Willy are increasingly involved as well. It's incredible to see."

"The choir sings songs teaching about AIDS (Ukimwi in Swahili). They teach about Salvation. They teach about Women's rights - including FGM (female genital mutilation). They are working on building a school to teach their children. They are building sand filters to provide people with clean water. They are concerned with getting wells into their communities."

AIDS is devastating the Maasai people. Jeremy states, "The Maasai culture has a number of loose rules that allow age groups to sleep around "morally". The problem comes when the young guys go to the cities to work as guards. The Maasai are renowned for their unique dress and lack of fear. They're exceptional night guards. However, while they're in the city, the guys sleep around and get HIV. Then they go home, and like wildfire it sweeps through the community."

"In Women's rights, it's interesting to see what's happening. Female genital mutilation is built right into the fabric of their culture. There are all sorts of lines that are used to explain it, but the rubber meets the road at the point where MAPED now have two girls whose fathers and mothers have agreed not to subject them to circumcision. Everyone understands that it means the girls probably won't ever marry, but they're doing it. It's a huge step, and it'll take a generation to really work. However, it begins the long process of breaking the grip of the past on them. I think we'll see more of those decisions over the years. Each one will be the decision of a mother and a father (and even the daughter will have some input), but the tables are going to turn - it's going to be okay to not do it. Maybe it'll take years, or maybe they'll succeed faster."

"This group of Maasai don't look like "western Christians" because they aren't. Kadogo has two wives. But they have Real, Vibrant, Communal, Powerful relationships with God through Jesus, and they are radically changing their community, undeniably for the better."

"The choir sang recently for the President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete. He's Muslim. All of their songs - all of them - are about God. They're impacting the nation now, not just their community. They were called to perform at a government event highlighting education in the remote areas of Tanzania."

Pamoja is partnering with MAPED by producing a music CD, a Documentary DVD and a beautiful Photography Book, all featuring their wonderful choir. The funds raised by marketing these products locally and especially in the West, will raise funds to build a school for the Maasai in their own area.