People know Malawi as the poorest country on Earth and the birthplace of Madonna's adopted son.
Jackson resident Colleen Hammond knows the south-central African nation as one of the countries that's hardest hit by malaria.
The question is: Why does the disease cause some of those children to go into a coma?
Hammond is part of a medical research team from Michigan State University setting up a magnetic resonance imaging machine at a medical facility there to scan the brains of children to try to learn the answer. When it's up and running in June, it will be the only one in the country, and one of seven in Africa.
``The town we are working in is about the size of Michigan Center and very poor. People with money live in houses behind big walls that have glass shards and barbed wire across the top. Foreigners never go out at night,'' said Hammond, chief research technologist at MSU's Department of Radiology and manager of the MRI program there.
Hammond is working with Dr. Terrie Taylor, an MSU professor of internal medicine in the school's osteopathic medicine program, who has established the ongoing study in Malawi. Malaria kills as many as 3 million children annually there.
General Electric Corp. has donated an MRI unit valued at $1.2 million. Hammond visited Malawi for three weeks in July and will return for several weeks in May and again in June for the dedication of the MRI as she helps coordinate the building project.
``Colleen has been a godsend. She is training the technicians at MSU and in Malawi, she is keeping us on track in terms of all of the practical logistics, and she is the `go to' person for a wide variety of questions,'' Taylor wrote in an e-mail from Malawi.
``There were theoretical questions in the beginning, and now that the roof has gone on the building, she's fielding all sorts of technical questions. She's also been a very valuable link to General Electric. I don't know where we'd be,'' Taylor wrote.
Hammond helped train Dr. Samuel Kampondeni, the only radiologist in Malawi, who spent nine months working at MSU's facility. Once the machine is running in Malawi, he will be able to send images to MSU if he needs assistance in reading them.
Hammond became an
X-ray technician in 1987 and worked at Foote Hospital 10 years, then Sparrow Hospital in Lansing for five years. She accepted this position three years ago.
Going to Africa is a bit out of her comfort zone. It takes about three days to get there. She starts taking anti-malaria pills three days before leaving and continues taking them for 10 days after returning home.
The hardest part is leaving her three children: Evan, 14; Kaitlin, 10; and Erin, 8. All three children have gotten involved in their mother's mission.
They are members of St. John Catholic Church, where Hammond is co-chairwoman of Monday night bingo. The money the children earn in tips from selling soft drinks is used to buy coloring books and crayons for the African children.
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Ricki Lake Gets Involved With Malawi
Does anyone remember this: “Ricki, Ricki, Ricki, Ricki”? Well do a few stretches and warm up those vocal chords-I’m about to give you a reason to shout, “Ricki” again.
Actress turned talk show host, Ricki Lake, is following in the steps of the Queen Of Bottled Water herself, Madonna, and getting involved with Malawi. Apparently, Ricki’s Malawian nanny founded the Jacaranda School in the African country and now Ricki’s pitching in to help build a latrine.
Lake admitted that Madonna was her inspiration for getting involved with Malawi after she adopted her son David from the country. Lake said, “I love that Madonna adopted this baby and has brought so much attention to Malawi. She’s my hero.”
From Hairspray to Serial Mom to interracial drag queens in incestual relationships to Malawi, I call this is a good career move on the old checkerboard of life. So, I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: “Ricki, Ricki, Ricki, Ricki!!!!”
Malawi sets new tobacco prices for buyers
Malawian tobacco farmers are expected to be paid a minimum of $2.70 per kg this year for their crop, up from last year's $1.85 per kg, a senior government official said on Thursday.
Tobacco is the southern African nation's mainstay, accounting for over 70 percent of Malawi's exports and 15 percent of its gross domestic product, but for the last two years low prices have led to cuts in production.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Patrick Kabambe said that the new prices have been agreed upon with buyers and other stakeholders in the industry.
"The minimum price set for the leaf is $2.20 cents which is more than last year minimum price of $1.85 cents last year," Kabambe told Reuters.
For many years tobacco prices had hovered around 70-90 U.S. cents per kg, far lower than the $1 the industry says it costs to produce one kg of the golden leaf.
But from last year prices improved and farmers sold their crop between $1.70 and $1.60 per kg for the first time in several years, after President Bingu wa Mutharika ordered buyers to offer better prices or leave the country.
Limbe Leaf Tobacco, majority owned by the Swiss-registered Continental Tobacco Company, and U.S.-based Alliance One Tobacco, are the active buyers who were ordered to peg the prices at a minimum price of $1.1 per kg and $1.7 for higher grade leaf.
Wa Mutharika, who also farms tobacco, accused buyers of running a cartel to fix prices but the companies have denied the allegations.
Last year, the government registered another international buyer, U.S.-based based Premiere Leaf, in a bid to get better prices. Two undisclosed Chinese companies are expected to buy the crop this year.
About 2 million of the country's 13 million people depend on tobacco and related industries for their livelihood.
Tobacco is the southern African nation's mainstay, accounting for over 70 percent of Malawi's exports and 15 percent of its gross domestic product, but for the last two years low prices have led to cuts in production.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Patrick Kabambe said that the new prices have been agreed upon with buyers and other stakeholders in the industry.
"The minimum price set for the leaf is $2.20 cents which is more than last year minimum price of $1.85 cents last year," Kabambe told Reuters.
For many years tobacco prices had hovered around 70-90 U.S. cents per kg, far lower than the $1 the industry says it costs to produce one kg of the golden leaf.
But from last year prices improved and farmers sold their crop between $1.70 and $1.60 per kg for the first time in several years, after President Bingu wa Mutharika ordered buyers to offer better prices or leave the country.
Limbe Leaf Tobacco, majority owned by the Swiss-registered Continental Tobacco Company, and U.S.-based Alliance One Tobacco, are the active buyers who were ordered to peg the prices at a minimum price of $1.1 per kg and $1.7 for higher grade leaf.
Wa Mutharika, who also farms tobacco, accused buyers of running a cartel to fix prices but the companies have denied the allegations.
Last year, the government registered another international buyer, U.S.-based based Premiere Leaf, in a bid to get better prices. Two undisclosed Chinese companies are expected to buy the crop this year.
About 2 million of the country's 13 million people depend on tobacco and related industries for their livelihood.
Malawi inflation pushes up to 7.7 pct y/y
Malawi's inflation jumped to 7.7 percent year-on-year in January, from 7.5 percent in December, the National Statistical Office (NSO) said on Thursday.
The NSO said in a statement higher fuel prices were the main driver of the rise of inflation in January. Fuel prices rose by 17 percent in September and 5 percent last month and Malawi is a net importer of oil.
"The current rise in inflation is due mainly to the recent upward adjustments in the price of gasoline and its derivatives and seasonal pressure on cereals and cereal products," it said.
It said the shortage of maize had also contributed to a rise in inflation, in a country where the food index makes up 58.1 percent of the consumer price index.
Malawi harvested 3.1 million tonnes of maize in the last planting season -- its biggest in 10 years. The government exported 400,000 tonnes to hunger stricken Zimbabwe.
But despite having a bumper crop, government is rationing maize sales to deal with the dwindling stocks in its markets.
Most parts of Malawi usually start suffering from maize shortages between December and March when most households have exhausted their previous harvest.
The NSO said in a statement higher fuel prices were the main driver of the rise of inflation in January. Fuel prices rose by 17 percent in September and 5 percent last month and Malawi is a net importer of oil.
"The current rise in inflation is due mainly to the recent upward adjustments in the price of gasoline and its derivatives and seasonal pressure on cereals and cereal products," it said.
It said the shortage of maize had also contributed to a rise in inflation, in a country where the food index makes up 58.1 percent of the consumer price index.
Malawi harvested 3.1 million tonnes of maize in the last planting season -- its biggest in 10 years. The government exported 400,000 tonnes to hunger stricken Zimbabwe.
But despite having a bumper crop, government is rationing maize sales to deal with the dwindling stocks in its markets.
Most parts of Malawi usually start suffering from maize shortages between December and March when most households have exhausted their previous harvest.
'They must go or we will kill them'
A crowd of 250 foreigners seeking refuge at the Laudium police station on Wednesday night steadily grew as more people returned from work - only to find it too dangerous to go to their homes in Itireleng squatter settlement near Laudium.
Most of them had been there since Wednesday afternoon, as they fled xenophobic violence in the area. Fearing for their lives, they could only watch as their shacks and shops were destroyed and their meagre possessions stolen.
As the people huddled in quiet groups outside the police station, station commander Superintendent Johann Britz said: "The group has grown from 30 to 120 people within an hour. Several were at work when the trouble started, and now find they can't go home. Their food, clothes, everything is still there."
He said they could not send the people home as the police could not guarantee their safety. About 80 percent of those outside the station were from Malawi, while the others were from Zimbabwe, Somalia and Mozambique.
Police have arrested 10 people on charges of public violence and on Wednesday night hoped to get more of the instigators.
Britz called the home affairs department, UN representatives, Red Cross and embassies in an attempt to get help.
"Here are pregnant women. A four-year-old boy was separated from his parents and came to the station with the crowd. His parents arrived later. They searched for him through all the violence and danger and finally came here to ask the police for help," Britz said.
Outside, the Legions Special Task Team of South Africa, an NGO created by police reservists, arrived with food for the refugees.
Community members followed with blankets.
Jody Kollapen, chairperson of the SA Human Rights Commission, managed to organise overnight accommodation for the women and children in Johannesburg, but the women refused to leave their husbands.
"Some of these foreigners have been living in that area for more than 10 years. I think it was a mob mentality that led to all this trouble. It is easy to blame foreigners, but it is because of things like the Zim problem. If it is not resolved, we are going to see this violence again," Kollapen said.
Describing the group outside the police station as a humanitarian problem, Kollapen said they had lost everything. Children had to go to school the next day and parents had to work, yet they were now out on the street.
He contacted Tshwane executive mayor Dr Gwen Ramokgopa and it was decided to house the people in the Laudium Community Hall for the night.
"From what we have gathered, this thing was started by a handful of troublemakers and irresponsible community leaders," Kollapen said.
When Ramokgopa and Dikeledi Lehobye, member of the mayoral committee responsible for community safety, arrived, Britz briefed them on the situation.
Afterwards Ramokgopa said it appeared that most of the displaced foreigners were in the country legally.
"We need our citizens to identify the perpetrators. For decades South Africans have been living peacefully with others. We cannot behave like an uncivilised nation," she said.
In Itireleng groups of marauding armed men attacked scores of foreigners, including women and children. Panic-stricken Malawians, Mozambicans, Zimbabweans and Congolese, as well as several Zulus and Xhosas, were forced to flee.
A church was set alight and several homes were destroyed.
Beating drums, hundreds of squatters, armed with pangas, steel poles, guns, wooden planks and gardening implements, attacked the foreigners.
The armed gangs dragged people from their homes, set their belongings on fire and chased them out of the area.
Crying women were seen running for their lives, dragging their children behind them as they were forced to leave their possessions behind. Others salvaged a few belongings before retreating.
Those who tried to fight back were stabbed and beaten before being dragged naked through the streets.
Irate residents said they were tired of foreigners living in the country.
"They steal our jobs and kill our people. They must go to their own countries because if they don't, we will kill them," said John Tjana.
Most of them had been there since Wednesday afternoon, as they fled xenophobic violence in the area. Fearing for their lives, they could only watch as their shacks and shops were destroyed and their meagre possessions stolen.
As the people huddled in quiet groups outside the police station, station commander Superintendent Johann Britz said: "The group has grown from 30 to 120 people within an hour. Several were at work when the trouble started, and now find they can't go home. Their food, clothes, everything is still there."
He said they could not send the people home as the police could not guarantee their safety. About 80 percent of those outside the station were from Malawi, while the others were from Zimbabwe, Somalia and Mozambique.
Police have arrested 10 people on charges of public violence and on Wednesday night hoped to get more of the instigators.
Britz called the home affairs department, UN representatives, Red Cross and embassies in an attempt to get help.
"Here are pregnant women. A four-year-old boy was separated from his parents and came to the station with the crowd. His parents arrived later. They searched for him through all the violence and danger and finally came here to ask the police for help," Britz said.
Outside, the Legions Special Task Team of South Africa, an NGO created by police reservists, arrived with food for the refugees.
Community members followed with blankets.
Jody Kollapen, chairperson of the SA Human Rights Commission, managed to organise overnight accommodation for the women and children in Johannesburg, but the women refused to leave their husbands.
"Some of these foreigners have been living in that area for more than 10 years. I think it was a mob mentality that led to all this trouble. It is easy to blame foreigners, but it is because of things like the Zim problem. If it is not resolved, we are going to see this violence again," Kollapen said.
Describing the group outside the police station as a humanitarian problem, Kollapen said they had lost everything. Children had to go to school the next day and parents had to work, yet they were now out on the street.
He contacted Tshwane executive mayor Dr Gwen Ramokgopa and it was decided to house the people in the Laudium Community Hall for the night.
"From what we have gathered, this thing was started by a handful of troublemakers and irresponsible community leaders," Kollapen said.
When Ramokgopa and Dikeledi Lehobye, member of the mayoral committee responsible for community safety, arrived, Britz briefed them on the situation.
Afterwards Ramokgopa said it appeared that most of the displaced foreigners were in the country legally.
"We need our citizens to identify the perpetrators. For decades South Africans have been living peacefully with others. We cannot behave like an uncivilised nation," she said.
In Itireleng groups of marauding armed men attacked scores of foreigners, including women and children. Panic-stricken Malawians, Mozambicans, Zimbabweans and Congolese, as well as several Zulus and Xhosas, were forced to flee.
A church was set alight and several homes were destroyed.
Beating drums, hundreds of squatters, armed with pangas, steel poles, guns, wooden planks and gardening implements, attacked the foreigners.
The armed gangs dragged people from their homes, set their belongings on fire and chased them out of the area.
Crying women were seen running for their lives, dragging their children behind them as they were forced to leave their possessions behind. Others salvaged a few belongings before retreating.
Those who tried to fight back were stabbed and beaten before being dragged naked through the streets.
Irate residents said they were tired of foreigners living in the country.
"They steal our jobs and kill our people. They must go to their own countries because if they don't, we will kill them," said John Tjana.
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