stopover.ca

Dukoral … I just took my first dose.  This is supposed to help prevent all kinds of intestinal parasitic problems, I hope so.  I leave for DRCongo in about 10 days.  This time I head to Uvira, up in the remote areas.  I have been at the back end of nowhere the last few times, but Uvira is supposed to be really, really out there – I am curious to see what people in Bukavu think of as really remote.

Last year we were in the middle of a large $2.5 million dollar food aid project in this region. This time I am going in to see what we can do to work with the population to stabilize food security. Hopefully we will be able to determine a project that will be of real and lasting benefit. Hopefully the rebels don’t take it all away.

My second and last dose of Dukarol is to be taken in a week – it should keep me safe from cholera, a water-borne disease for three months. Since contaminated water is a real problem we may also be looking at a well project in one of our project areas, it would be great to reduce illness without the need for a few thousand (expensive) Dukoral doses for the community

I will also be scouting for Mike and Amy Boomer who I am helping to the field this fall. This is a double-duty role for me – I will train and facilitate them through our Mid-Termer Process at STMN (check it out stmnetwork.ca) and I am also their project manager for ERDO.ca They are a great couple and are inspiring many others to support them, check out their blog at www.theboomers.org maybe they will inspire you to head overseas – let me know, I might be able to help …

Mark Crocker