First, when you kill a spider, ALWAYS be prepared for it to be pregnant!! Ok? Ok!!!!!! Secondly, so I continued to work with the Malaria researchers for a few more days after my blog post. So here's a quick update...After the larvae were fully grown, they were separated into different cylindrical tubes, about 40, I believe. Each tube had a mesh opening for venting. A cotton swab was placed over the mesh opening, and the cotton was saturated with different insecticides. The goal of the research is to find what insecticide works best at killing malaria carrying mosquitos, therefore this insecticide can be used in mosquito nets and in future indoor residual spraying projects. The researchers are long gone, and have moved on to the next catchment area; however, I'm grateful for the knowledge they left with me! Since we're on mosquitos and malaria, last week my sector, Kiyombe, along with other sectors in my district, launched its Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) campaign! So what is IRS? It is one of the strategies used to reduce malaria transmission, it entails the spraying of the inside walls of houses or anywhere people may spend the night. The spray consist of insecticide that kills mosquitos that land on these surfaces, for the female mosquito that transmits malaria rest on walls after feeding. Therefore, IRS will decrease the survival rate of malaria carrying mosquitos before the infectious stage of malaria can develop in the vector. Land on a wall = death of mosquito = decreased malaria vectors = decreased occurrence of malaria.
Rwanda is a country in the President's Malaria Initiative, the U.S. President that is. The President's Malaria Initiative, started in 2005, under the Bush Administration (Insert your own Bush slug here) has all kinds of programs in place with the goal of cutting deaths caused by malaria in-half in, currently, 19 countries in Africa, and in the Greater Mekong Subregion in Asia. IRS us funded by Abt Associates, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Every home will be sprayed with the insecticide. Each household member 16 years and older will be documented to keep track of anyone in the house that contracts malaria after the spraying has been performed. The spray is said not to be harmful to infants, seasoned saints, or other vulnerable populations. However, families will need to be out of their homes and return two hours after spraying is completed. Week before last, I participated in the trainings that have lead to our launch. The spraying will be done by Community Health Workers. They gathered last week to learn the how to mix and dilute the insecticide. They learned how to load, aim, and fire the compressors that will hold the insecticide, in order to fully cover the targeted area. This past week...WE LAUNCHED!!!! And yes, I got to go in the field with them. However, I didn't participate in spraying, which I'm ok with! But nonetheless, on my day out there I was DOG TIRED!! Climbing hills to reach homes, it's not like they're all in a straight row. Well this might be all on malaria for awhile...OH!!! AND, there was free lunch each day of training. You know I was there! Until Next Time, Live in Love
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"Sister, where are you from?"
"But your skin and face look like mine." "I see that they are American, but you cannot be." "Your momma and papa are American?" "Your momma's momma and papa's papa are American?" "What about their momma and papa?" "And theirs? And so on?" Well, that "so on" part, I do not know. I think of myself to be well traveled. And believe it or not, I have been African American or black (I still don't know why both options are beside that one check box) my entire life. I have my parents to thank for both of the previously mentioned. But in my travels, I've learned people will always look at me differently, treat me differently, touch my hair, ask irritating questions...pretty much I've learned...it is arduous being black all over the world! I must admit, sometimes I am bothered when my nationality is challenged or discredited because I have darker skin. Other times, I just take it as an opportunity to educate. It really depends on if I've had my Wheaties for breakfast. I try to keep in mind that Rwanda is not in West Africa. You see, when I visited Ghana, natives were very knowledgable about how people that look like them ,and I, wound up in America. Here, in Rwanda, that is not the case. In fact, the "African Slave Trade" is just making its debut in school curriculum. So the big question is, "How can you be American?" In addition, "How did you get there?" Most people that have access to TV and other social media outlets have seen African Americans. However, even in that population the question "How can you be American with black skin?" remains. The curiosity and innocent ignorance increases the more rural you travel. "You look Kenyan." or "You look Rwandan." "WHO? WHAT? HOW? WHEN? And WHY?" How many generations of your family are American? How did they get there? Where did they come from? Because, once again, you don't look American. I tend to do pretty well up until that last question. When talking with people, "From Africa." is not an acceptable answer, because Africa is a continent not a state. They want to know WHERE?! In my mind I'm always thinking, "Well hell, you and I both want to know that!" But I just say, "I don't know." One guy responded with, "Well that is very bad that you don't know where you are from like the [white] American." Again, I'm thinking, "Sir, they barely know where they're from, they just have a better chance of finding out." If I have the energy, and the person hasn't annoyed me, I try my best to explain. For instance, one night, Diane asked me to help her with her World History homework. She too had her questions, and it was a great time to educate. Sometimes these conversations go well, other times the person thinks I'm a liar. But, oh well, that's on them. Some people don't want to know, they just want to insult you, and really I don't have to entertain that. Sometimes the conversation goes as far as, "Why is your hair like that? It should be straight." There goes that colonization and media influence again, but I don't have time to go there. I just tell them my hair is like it is because I want it that way. At times, it hurts that my nationality is challenged or isn't seen as valid as my counterparts. All in all, I say that to say this, education and representation are vital. Educate yourself about yourself and about others. Be slow to take offense and be more open to educating. There are many of people that know President Obama, Oprah, and OF COURSE Queen Bey, but still can't connect that it is possible to be Black American. I encourage you to travel to far places, to the crevices of the earth, be the representation. As you go forth, brace yourself, the mystery of your origin, your being, peaks curiosity in all corners of the earth. It is hard, but, like me, you're well equipped to be black all over the world! And if I say so myself, it is a privilege! Until Next Time, Live in Love Words From the Wise: "I've got slave and Indian blood, which I always claimed made me more American than most people that called themselves that." -Josephine Baker |