A Letter From Jean, Cecile and Lazare

Christmas Eve, 2006

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

My trip to the USA and Canada from 13 Nobember to 16 December was eventful. It started as a search for eye care. It ended up being as well an occasion to share with many audiences the needs of Congo and a major effort to find institutional support for Butoke for the next three years.

Eye care was needed as macular degeneration had blinded me in the right eye. With the help of Dr. Bradley Sack an appointment had been obtained at Johns Hopkins. I was in one day diagnosed and treated with laser. Within 24 hours I had about 60% of the visual field back; ever since it has been improving. It feels as a little miracle. I am grateful to God and all the people involved.

The sharing about Congo happedned in parishes in Maryland and Delaware, in interested NGOs and CIDA itself at Ottawa, Montreal, Oshawa and Toronto, and before members of the OCHA Committee for Humanitarian Activities in DR Congo of the UN in New York. Everywhere the presentations were very well received. It confirmed to me that Africa and DR Congo in particular are still in the hearts of many people and maybe some meaningful help will come forward. I wish to thank all the people who assisted me and the presentations. May God bless you. May God bless the outcome of the efforts consented.

I have been back in this time zone for the last 10 days, of which 24 hours were in Belgium, but I am still struggling with jetlag and the impact of the difference in temperature (Ottawa - 12C, Kananga 30C) and I developed a light case of malaria. I am also re-entering the struggle to relieve utter misery face to face and find joy in small victories, while dreaming big of a better future for Western Kasai.

As most of you know the harvest has started in Westeren Kasai. In many associations beans have already been harvested. The harvest of peanuts has been started, but corn, soy, watermelon will be harvested sometime in January. Our fields for multiplication of cassava will also mature some time in January. In contrast with the rainy season of March to June which was too short as the end came prematurely, this time the rains seem maintained beyond expectation and have been sufficient in most places, although in some places there was a dry spell of two weeks after an early onset. Where there was an early dry spell and sowing had been done there may be less harvest. The continuing rains are not threatening the harvests, but make harvesting the peanuts more hectic and the necessary drying of the peanuts is rendered more difficult. By January we will be able to update you on the outcome of what we still hope should bhe the biggest harvest in Butoke's history.

The effective devaluation of the Congolese money (from 450 CF to 550CF per dollar) prior to the elections has been reversed partially. The going rate is now 520, so imported goods are somewhat more available and affordable. Fuel has become somewhat more affordable, so food is also more affordable. This combined with increased supplies from the beginning harvest seems responsible for the fact that we are receiving less new cases of severely malnourished children and are able to release some after full recovery.

Our action for health is progressing. Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Bradley Sack we now have a proper medical microscope. We started the detection of malaria among our malnourished kids, who often have no symptoms even though infected. We found already three positive. We have started treating them. This tool will help to treat with more sensitivity and specificity given the confusing symptoms, especially with the malnourished. It will also be much less costly than referring everyone for tests.

We still have 12 children who are resident in our center as they came from far; 5 among them are severe cases and 7 are moderately malnourished siblings of the severe cases. We also care for 52 moderately malnourished coming from the immediate environment. For more than a month we have not received severe cases from the immediate environment. After all, we are nearing the end of the so called season of witches......

No sooner had I written this, then I was called for a child called Kunyima. He had just arrived from Kananga in the throes of death. He is 18 months, about normal height but only 5.7 kg (12.5 pounds) about 50% of weight for height and even less for age. He can no longer walk nor sit independently. Marasmic, dehydrated, not eating since 1 month, even incapable of swallowing liquids. When he tries to swallow all regurgitates with a mass of pus. He also has a fever of 38.5 C or 101.3 F. I suspect a post pharyngeal abscess and maybe malaria and anemia. So we referred him immediately as an emergency to IMCK. We will follow up from now on to be sure he is cared for and does not slip into death for lack of appropriate care. If he survives the first few days he will probably make it and become one of our resident children until full recovery from the malnutrition.

4 hours later:

We spent the last hours seeking to get all tests and treatments carried out for Kunyima. The hospital is frightfully understaffed because of the holidays. So I did all the errands for tests and drugs myself. Tests showed severe malaria, and severe anemia necessitating transfusion, and suspected pharyngitis or a post pharyngeal abscess. Rehydration is being done through a nasopharyngeal intubation. Antibiotics and quinine have been given through in intravenous route. Hope to find a donor by tomorrow as I am not eligible as I am under treatment for malaria and all other colleagues are the wrong blood group.

Christmas:

7 am: Kunyima is alive. A transfusion has been done, the body temperature is down to normal. Now we need to manage special feeding through the naso-gastric route until he can swallow. We continue to pray that the child may live. This has been a worthwhile Christmas gift.

Let me take up again reporting. On the education front we can say that even though school fees have been increased we were able to pay for 665 orphans and abandoned children in primary and secondary school and we sponsor also partially 18 in post secondary and university. In September and October, the school year was disturbed by the second round of elections but since then the schools seem able to teach. In Canada, we have discussed the possibility of collaboration with a Canadian NGO on reinforcing pedagogical skills and curriculum content in primary schools and also in the agricultural section of the secondary schools. We hope this will come to fruition.

Day after Christmas:

Jean has left to supervise the harvesting and start the planning for the next season. It feels we are at a new beginning in truth. We thank wholeheartedly all who have been supporting us in 2006, by their work, their prayer or their financial support. We hope all of you have also had a joyful Christmas and a happy New Year. May God find us united in the coming year to work even at a bigger scale for the welfare and the development of the most disinherited here in Western Kasai and elsewhere in the world.

In His love,

Jean, Cecile and Lazare

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