Dr. Cherian Thomas Keynoter at Conference

Dr. Cherian Thomas, Executive Secretary Health & Welfare for the General Board of Global Ministries launched the Eighth Annual RxConnexion VIM Health Conference with a keynote presentation about the involvement of the United Methodist Church in promoting Community Based Health Projects. Dr. Thomas also shared examples of successful Community Based health models initiated by UMVIM Teams.

The RxConnexion Consultation of the North Central Jurisdiction is held each year during the first week-end in May. The purpose of the meeting is to provide health volunteers with connections for learning and sharing in order to optimize their health mission experiences.

The 2009 RxConnexion Meeting is scheduled for May 1-3 at Church of the Dunes United Methodist Church in Grand Haven, MI.

Africa Fighting Malaria Report

Click on title, above to read AFM's study on Malaria treatment in Africa

Reuters India has provided a nice summary:
http://in.reuters.com/article/health/idINN0651796020080507

Study Abstract: A range of antimalarial drugs were procured from private pharmacies in urban and peri-urban areas in the major cities of six African countries, situated in the part of that continent and the world that is most highly endemic for malaria. Semi-quantitative thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and dissolution testing were used to measure active pharmaceutical ingredient content against internationally acceptable standards. 35% of all samples tested failed either or both tests, and were substandard. Further, 33% of treatments collected were artemisinin monotherapies, most of which (78%) were manufactured in disobservance of an appeal by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to withdraw these clinically inappropriate medicines from the market. The high persistence of substandard drugs and clinically inappropriate artemisinin monotherapies in the private sector risks patient safety and, through drug resistance, places the future of malaria treatment at risk globally.

AFM's larger policy paper on malaria treatment in Africa is available here: http://fightingmalaria.org/pdfs/AFMTreatmentPolicyPaper.pdf

Please feel free to contact me directly with questions.

Sincerely,
Philip CoticelliAfrica Fighting Malaria
http://us.f838.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=africa@fightingmalaria.org--Check Out Our New Video and Support AFM's Fight Against Malaria!http://fightingmalaria.org/AFMInAction

Using Plastic Bottles for Water Solar Radiation

Information below taken from "RxConnexion Conference" presentation by Beth Ferrell, United Methodist Missionary Interpreter for the North Central Jurisdiction

Ms. Ferrell advocates the SODIS method of water pasteurization that uses only sunlight and plastice PET bottles. "The purpose of SODIS is not to produce sterile water free of microorganisms, but the inactivation of pathogenic, diarrhea causing microorganisms." Chemically contaminated water should not be used for SODIS and should not be consumed without some form of treatment.
Solar Radiation - a simple water treatment method using solar radiation and temperature to disinfect water. The process is effective between Latitude 35 North and 35 South. UV-A Sunrays have a germicidal effect on pathogenic organisms through the formation of oxygen free radical, hydrogen peroxide and damage to bacterial DNA.

Procedure: 1. Wash the 1-3 quart clear plastice PET or glass bottle well before use.
2. Allow water to settle if turbid. 3. Ladle or pour the settle water through a fine mesh cloth into clear bottle with tight-fitting lid. 4. Fill the bottle 3/4 full and shake it 20 seconds to increase level of 02 in the water. 5. Fill to the top and re-cap, making sure there are no air bubbles to reflect sunlight radiation. 6. Lay the bottle on its side on a shiny surface, such as a sinc roof, for 6 hours during the sunniest part of the day where it will not be in the shade. Do not place bottles on flammable surface, as the bottle can act as a magnifying glass. 7. Leave bottles in sun for 6 hours on sunny day and 6 hours on 50% cloudy day. If 100% cloudy, two days. Do not use this method during rainfall.

Proper Containers: Recent research has revealed that chemicals may leach into the water from PVC type plastic bottles. For that reason, only PET type plastic bottles should be used. To tell the difference, PVC bottles are difficult to inflame but when burned, it gives off a black smoke and pungent odor. PET bottles burn easily whe held into a flame and the smell of the smoke is sweet.

Photo, above, from SODIS website at www.sodis.ch/

To read Beth Ferrell's complete article go to "Knock Archives" in left column and select "fall 2007 Issue"

Solar Cookers at Work in the World

Click on title, above, to link with website
(from May, 2008 Solar Cooker Review)

Haiti / United States
For nearly a decade, Solar Oven Partners (SOP) has been providing Haitians with needed relief from wood-fueled cooking in the form of solar ovens. Volunteers in Brookings, South Dakota (USA) use donated or discounted raw materials to build numerous solar oven components, which are then boxed up and shipped to Haiti for final assembly. The wooden, box-style solar ovens cost about $60 to make with volunteer labor, and are based on one of Richard Wareham’s Sunstove® designs. Each solar oven is packaged with three black cooking pots, a Water Pasteurization Indicator (WAPI), and a recipe booklet. Haitians pay a modest fee for the ovens, which they receive upon completion of a training course. Last July, a team of SOP volunteers visited Haiti for the 22nd time. They assembled 74 solar cookers and trained 80 families how to cook and pasteurize water with solar energy. Throughout the year, Haitians Montas and Raymonde Joseph conduct additional SOP trainings and sell solar ovens. They historically relied on the volunteer teams to come to Haiti and assemble cookers, which was not always sufficient to meet demand. In response, SOP has contracted with a young Haitian woman named Italis Jeanne Milcar to assure that enough ovens are available for the trainings. In just a few short months, Milcar had already assembled nearly 350 cookers and 100 WAPIs! Two years ago, SOP converted a 12.2-meter sea container for use as a storage facility for solar cookers in Haiti. They recently purchased a second container, and after 10 months of hard work, were able to fill it to capacity with components for an additional 1000 cookers, soon to be shipped to Haiti. Contact: Rick Jost, United Methodist Missionary, 928 4th Street #2, Brookings, South Dakota 57006, USA. Tel: 605-692-3391, e-mail: rjost@brookings.net, Web: www.gbgm-umc.org/solarovenshaiti; Jean Michel Basquin, Coordination Office for Development, Methodist Church of Haiti, P.O. Box 6, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Ecologically Savvy Ideas for Health Volunteers Needed

Greetings, Health Volunteers:
As we embark on the month of May, I encourage you to send in posts that tell about your experiences and knowledge related to the use of natural resources and processes (wind, sun, composting, hebal medicines). These methods can be important tools for health volunteers to use in developing countries.

Please visit this website to learn about "ECHO", www.echonet.org/ a volunteer Christian mission organization that seeks to find "hunger solutions" in developing countries. Then visit the "Center for Global Health" at the Peeke School of Christian Mission at http://www.king.edu/ .

A United Methodist VIMer, Janet Auman, is preparing an article about her experience in Fort Myers, FL at the ECHO school. We need an expert on solar cookers to share as well.

This is your blog, so please share your wisdom. It is easy to leave comments on any posting by clicking below the posting where it says "0 comments". You can increase that number!

Illinois VIM Team Brings Eye Care to Haiti

In late January of this year, a medical mission team went to Les Cayes, Haiti, a small community on the southern coast, and offered day clinics in four rural locations. The team was headed by the Rev. David B. Kaller, pastor of Ingalls Park UMC, Joliet, IL, and his wife, Maria J. (Josefina) Kaller, RN, a public health nurse with the Lake County *(IL) Health Department.

The team included a mix of medical professionals and non-professionals, and ranged in age from young adults in their twenties to senior citizens. They came from Illinois, Florida, and Haiti. Services offered included basic medical care, eye care, and dental care. The team also took prescription medicine, over-the counter medicine, and purchased additional medical supplies in Haiti.

This was the Kallers’ third VIM trip to Haiti, but it was the first time they were fully prepared to do eye exams, and provide free eye glasses, a service that is greatly needed and appreciated. Mrs. Kaller purchased a device called the “Focometer” from the University of Houston, and was trained to use the device. It examines for astigmatism, and makes possible the provision of corrective lenses for people experiencing that problem. The team also brought inexpensive “readers,” glasses and thus enabled many people to improve their vision for reading and close work, such as women’s hand-work. It turns out that most Haitians are far sighted, so this was very important.

The team believes in working cooperatively with local medical professionals, as well as with the local Methodist Church, which takes care of logistics, and provides very important help and support.

The Kallers have been doing VIM trips since 1999, and have led teams to Panama, Costa Rica, South Africa, and Haiti. They have also been to Guatemala and Bolivia. The Kallers are always looking for people who would like to join them. A return VIM medical trip may be planned for January, 2009. If interested, please contact the Kallers at kaller@netzero.com, or 815-723-6462 (home) or 815-722-2383 (church).

Upcoming Events:

The MAMA Project, Inc. is hosting their 1st Annual Golf Outing at Hickory Valley Golf Club 1921 Ludwig Road in Gilbertsville, PA on Friday, June 20, 2008. The MAMA Project is a ministry focusing on families who live in severe poverty in Honduras, Nigeria and Haiti. Some of the services they provide are medical, dental clinics, health education, viatmin A and deworming promotion.

For more information or to register on-line by June 6, 2008, go to http://www.mamaproject.org/ .