RIVER BLINDNESS HEALTH PROJECT:
PARTNERSHIP PROPOSAL
El-Shaddai Projects International: Congo River Mission
Kisangani Region DRC
Project Leader: Abraham J. Meintjes in association with the CBFC Eye Clinic in Kisangani.
Contact Details: Mobile 00 27 82 443 5685 ∙ Fax 00 27 86 604 6553 ∙ E-Mail esprojects@swissmail.org ∙ Web Site: www.elshaddai.givengain.org
The Disease
River Blindness occurs in all villages along the Congo River and some of its tributaries.
Up to 18 million people are estimated to be affected and as many as 300 000 to 400 000 are blinded or severely hampered in their eye sight. Many find their way to towns or Kinshasa, where they try to survive as beggars.
River blindness is caused by a parasitical worm – Onchocerca Volvulus. The worm larvae are spread by the Black Simulium Fly which breeds in the high-Oxygen water of fast flowing rivers.
The fly transmits the disease when it bites people living or working near the river, making those in the many and widely distributed villages who live near and from the rivers, vulnerable.
When a Black Simulium Fly becomes infected, the worm larvae spread to its saliva glands. When it bites a human, these larvae pass into the skin.
The larvae develop into adults and form nodules under the skin. These adults then breed and produce thousands of larvae which spread through the whole body, including the eyes.
This causes intense itching. This infection aggravates existing eye conditions such as Glaucoma & Cataract.
Problems increase when the worms die in the body. The reaction of the human body’s immune system causes inflammation.
If this happens in the eye it can cause blindness. If infected at birth with “River Blindness” it is common for people to be blind by the age of 40.
Sadly, there is no cure once people are blinded, and they become a burden to themselves and their society in an environment where daily survival and dreams of some progressive community development are very daunting issues.
The Treatment
The CBFC (Communaute Baptiste du Fleueve Congo) or Baptist River Mission Church had started after 1879 when four mission stations were established along the Congo River. Hospitals and schools were part of the Christian concern for the Congolese people. The SDA also take a deep interest in providing communities with Church, school and medical attention.
Although much deteriorated due to historical conflict and challenges in the DRC (previously known as the Belgian Congo and Zaire), the CBFC and the Congo Blind Mission do what they can with very primitive means.
Eye cataract surgery is preformed by a few willing, caring and depressingly under-equipped medical staff at for example the CBFC Hospital’s Eye Clinic at Kisangani, or sometimes by a roving teams who visit nearby villages by dugout canoe and who do surgical procedures in village huts.
Ideally, River Blindness could be controlled by means of the drug “Invermectin”.
If Invermectin can be distributed to whole generations of entire villagers at early and regular stages, River Blindness and its social effects on deep rural societies can be alleviated.
The Challenges
The history of brutality and exploitation of the DRC and its people had left the country undeveloped and without effective infrastructure.
Communication and contact with deep rural society, along the networks of navigable rivers by means of shallow draft water craft, are possible, and could have helped to encourage rural villages to produce rubber, maize, coffee, cassava, palm seed oil, agriculture, farming stock, wild life conservation and hand craft for co-operative trade and basic rural economic development.
This had never happened effectively in the Congo River basin, which environment is also challenged and governed by climate, geography, rain forests, rebel wars, witch craft and cultural or tribal practices and differences.
The Solution
Political and social stability and strategic international development partnerships would be of tremendous encouragement towards national and rural development, - so far as the characteristics of the DRC and its environment would ever allow.
The humanistic interest of SADC, NEPAD and international aid organisations and NGO are always very valuable. The Christian Church (when divorced from political agendas) remains as the only persevering yeasting agent of faith, hope, love and moral accountability for society.
Realistically, one has to find practical solutions where the situations of need and social development opportunity are presented. In the case of faith-based NGO actions, work is done where God, grace and goodwill along with provision, allow.
The Proposal
El-Shaddai (Missionary) Projects International (ESPI) is a faith based Voluntary Cooperative NGO accountable to the Christian Church in South Africa, USA and in the DRC.
Some ground level contact, relationships and development proposals and co-operatives have been encouraged and established in the Kisangani region since prayer for Africa pointed to the DRC in 2004.
Logistic, shelter and endurance challenges for community and health workers can be overcome, on a multiplication and duplicating model, by means of power driven shallow water craft such as small pushers and medically equipped barges (according to the limited but generally proven cargo and transport design and operating procedures as utilised on the Congo River.)
Mr. Abraham J. Meintjes, servant leader of ESPI, has 23 years of maritime experience and simultaneous exposure into Africa since 1984.
Prayerful planning to date has resulted in boat design and talks with shipyards in the DRC.
Practically spoken, partnerships and co-operatives for work in the deep rural areas of the Congo River are often challenged by lack of integrity or either fear of the unknown, followed by fear of the known about the history and the environment of the DR Congo.
Experience, although painfully gained, has made ESPI cautious but determined to contribute to a better Congo for its legitimate custodians, the Congolese people.
The Work Agreement
ESPI is searching for medical, pharmaceutical, international aid and NGO co-operative partnerships to allow our willingness and dedication towards taking (apolitical and Biblical) Good News of Salvation and Godly Living to unreached and difficult to reach villages along the Congo River and its tributaries (as far as it is practical, feasible and executable).
We pray to minister to spirit and body, starting by developing further relationships from the Kisangani region – as bulwark right behind the effort to bring peace and orderly mining practices and win-win economic agreements to the North and South Kivu regions.
Medical, research and community development partnerships would allow us to minister to both these basic human needs in the Kisangani area and rivers nearby.
The Ball Park Figures
Initial six month practical development and ground level networking from Kisangani:
US$ 6 500.
First (new) pusher and barge construction (please contact us for details, descriptions, considerations, design, deployment and operational discussions): US $430 000
Health Care and medical research operations programs related to River Blindness: US$ as per monthly budget requirements and allowances, depending of size of operational area, objectives and realising partnerships.
The Rewards
Pioneering Community Development partners of integrity and experience in the Congo River basin.
Improved understanding of societal and environmental conditions for further international development networking and Africa development in central Africa regions.
Healthier Congo River Basin communities who are also encouraged towards basic rural economic development.
New research, development, philanthropist and business opportunities for the Health Industry.
Partnering action towards SADC development and stability.
Glory to God, edification of society and salvation for many.
Thank you for considering this Community Care proposal relating to the contributory medical and health care management of River Blindness in the DRC. Your comment, contribution or partnership proposals are welcomed and appreciated.
Please contact Abraham J. Meintjes at mobile all hours number: 00 27 82 443 5685
or
E-mail esprojects@swissmail.org
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