“The Vincentian Family
Against Malaria”
From the Circular Letter from the Leaders of the Vincentian
Family
"This year at our meeting in February we also decided,
for the first time in our history, to unite our energies
as a Vincentian Family in a common "political action"
aimed at the eradication of malaria. Besides affecting
many members of our own Family in Africa, Asia and Latin
America, malaria has devasteding effects in the lives
of countless others throughout the word. There are more
than 300 million acute cases of maria each year globally,
resulting in more than a million deaths. About 90% of
these deaths occur in Africa, mostly in young children.
Malaria is Africa's leading cause of death for those under
five years of age. But it is quite possible to combat
it actively, to diminish its effect gradually, and even
eventually to wipe it out (a success that has already
been achieved in a number of countries). What is lacking
is the "political will", and the corresponding
financial support. In other words, governments often have
other interests and establish other priorities for the
use of their money.
The goal of a "political action" campaign is
to express the views of our Vincentian the concrete, this
could mean, on an international level, that our Family
would:
- ask our offices at the UN in New York and the European
Community in Beligium to identify the appropriarte political
groups that should be contacted (the UN itself, the European
Community itself, other bodies, various national governments);
- draft a united statement describing who we are and what
we ask in regard to the eradication of malaria;
- send this united statement to the appropriarte political
bodies;
- encourage all our members to send similar statements.
On the national and local levels, in the concrete this
would mean that each branch in each country would devise
its own strategy. Such stragies would be relevant even
in countries that are malaria-free (e.g., the United States,
France, German, Italy, Spain, etc.), since these countries
have powerful political inflluence and huge economic resources.
To offer further information about this "political
action" to the members of our Vincentian Family and
to make practical suggestions about how to engage in it,
we have named a committee. Its members are: Fr. Benjamin
Romo, C.M., Sr. Marie Raw, D.C., Mrs. Rosa de Lima Ramanankavana,
AIC, Mr Maroc Detemps, SSVP, Fr. marc-Andre Couture, RSVP,
Edurne Udampilleta, JMV, Mr RamiroGuttierrez Ruiz, AMM,
Maria Jesus Cuena, MISEVI. They will be in contact with
you during the course of the year.
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Signed
Anne Surm, President, AIC (founded in 1617)
Robert P. Maloney, C.M. Superior General of the
Congregation of the Mission (founded in 1625)
Sr. Juana Elizondo, D.C.Superior General, Daughters
of Charity (founded in 1633)
Jose Ramon Diaz Torremocha, President, St. Vincent
de Paul Society (founded in 1833)
Yvon Laroche, rsv Superior General, Religious of
St. Vincent de Paul (founded in 1845)
Gladys Abi-Said President, Vincentian Marian Youth
(founded in 1847)
Charles Shelby, C.M. International Coordinator of
the Miraculous Medal Association (founded in 1909)
Eva Villar President, MISEVI (founded in 1999) |
ACTIONS AGAINST
MALARIA - MADAGASCAR
I. Sending of the project for 4 groups of the
Vincentian Family in Madagascar
II. April 25, 2004 : International
Day of fight against malaria : sending of a declaration
signed by the responsible for all Vincentian Family
associations in the country (First Minister) to describe
our actions, ask for government financial and training
support.
III. April 30, 2004 : Talk –
debate organized by the Ministry of Health, participation
of the person in charge and AIC National president.
Declaration handing over to the national responsible
for Malaria Project in this Ministry.
A. Participants
· Ministry representatives
· Association of the physicians of the town (Medical
Association)
· Madagascar International Population Service
(IPS) : to support Malagasy people we are serving”.
· Civil Society and Local Authorities
· Grass-roots communities
· Various NGO
· Person in charge of fighting against malaria
at Vincentian Family level
B. Themes
On the basis of the ABUJA declaration : African and
Malagasy Chiefs objective is that, before 2005, at least
60% of feverish children may have access to quick, effective
and low cost treatment within 24 hours after the mother
has detected symptoms.
· Paludism in Madagascar
· Paludism in Africa
· Common objectives : to reduce mortality in
the whole country
· To reduce transmission and morbidity in epidemic
high-risk areas
· Training of the mothers, first people in charge
of children, for Home Taking Care (HTC)
· To popularize this strategy and HTC tool
· To mobilize all actors of the society to reach
this objective
· To promote Insecticide Impregnated Mosquito
net (IIM)
“Home is the first hospital, a simple package
of efficient treatment against paludism, including clear
instructions, available at home, can reduce mortality
by paludism for children under 5”(RBM, OMS).
C. Comments
This was the first step that allows us to :
· Better know this scourge and the different
actions already undertaken and to be undertaken.
· Get to know the other partners for the Vincentian
project of struggle against malaria.
D. Following
· Promise of support from organisms (PSI with
RBM) in collaboration with Ministry of Health, for future
actions, such as purchase of impregnated mosquito nets,
medicines, etc...
· Raising awareness of mothers has already begun.
· Several groups have already elaborated a project
of struggle in their area and have begun actions. Example
: Taking of Palustop.
We remind you that 4 areas of Madagascar and Mozambique
Vincentian Family Association have been chosen as pilot
groups for the common project of Vincentian Family.
Manakara May 20, 2004.
Rose de Lima Ramanankavana.
More information :
http://www.famvin.org/malaria/background_for_the_campaign.html
Responsable AIC :
Rose de Lima RAMANANKAVANA : aicmada@dts.mg
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