Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Katimba K'Emibu na Ebitabu

The rainy season has absolutely come in full force this year. It rains for about one or two hours everyday very heavily. Almost everything in Masindi shuts down. Except for our school. When the rain is pounding on the corrugated metal roofs, it can almost drown out the bellows of thunder. However, you can always hear a teacher yelling their lungs out so that the students don't miss an entire hour of class just for the rains. The rain gives satisfaction to the thirsty soil, and everyone can begin to plant their crops. Also, spring wells and rain tanks will fill up making it easier for people to find water. The down side of the rainy season is the mosquitoes. They mate in standing water, and during the rainy season that is not difficult to find. Malaria kills about 320 people everyday in Uganda alone. When a student at St. Theresa gets Malaria, she can be out of school for weeks, rendering her basically incapable of passing her already difficult end of term exams. I'm trying to raise money now for mosquito nets to protect every student from Malaria. We have 900 students at St. Theresa School. A net in Uganda costs 6000 shillings. That is for a Long Lasting Insecticide-treated Net. (LLIN) Most nets that people buy are cheap and untreated. With an LLIN, the net will last around ten years, and! it will kill a mosquito that lands on it. These nets are easy to care for, will last long, and will save lives. In my project to obtain enough nets, I would also like to provide for the staff who live on the school compound with the students. There are about 30 staff members, and most of them have small children who are the most vulnerable population to die from Malaria. The need at our school is genuine and immediate. Thank you so much for your prayers and well wishes.
God Bless You All!
Mukama Akuhe Omugisa!

1 comment:

Sarah W said...

You need to update! Nohandika mpora mpora. Can't wait to see you soon love! See you next week!