Support for the Djohong Project - now and the future

Thanks for your response, Nancy about the trip dates. I think we all appreciate too Kate being clear about the realities of the 'umbrella' support from no other organizations or non-profit. However, it does raise the issue and I want to address that later since it relates partially to my desire to try to make a public event or a conference while in Cameroon (or possibly too after our return).

By the way, my second (re-sent) copy of my last e-mail reply to Nick's proposal for travel dates has bounced back once again from both Nick's and Stella's e-mail host (juno.com). That's strange since Kate could get the message (@juno.com).At least, I presume so. Please pass this message (and the previous ones) on to Stella Johnson, and I'm sure, Kate, that you'll keep Nick informed. I am also posting the major portions of our collective e-mail exchanges on the blog:

http://djohong.blogspot.com/

The reasons for blogging are several but one is so that we have single place to look up the facts/opinions and keep track of the unfolding options, challenges and opportunities. Remember, any of you are actual MEMBERS (I sent you an invitation and can resend it if needed) of this blog - -you can also add posts, edit them or previous posts, add pictures, etc; if you have the time or inclination. I find that e-mail itself is sometimes very unreliable (as Nancy's out-of-office e-mails signature so aptly and clearly points out -- I left it and also elaborated on it at the bottom of this post).

Committment to the Djohong trip and the idea of the Djohong Project

The financial costs and associated burdens (time, energy, communication and negotiations at so many levels and with so many parties) for participating in this trip could and probably should be addressed. But I don't expect there will be any simple or direct way to substantially change the fact that it will be somewhat costly and does represent our own personal commitment to both the people of Djohong and to our collective gratitude to and respect for Phyllis. For me, the opportunity to visit Djohong again is tremendously exciting and personally important, as much this time as the first visit with Phyllis. This is partly true because I have a stronger (and hopefully not misplaced) desire to carry on Phyllis's work.

Since Madame Phyllis cannot ever be replaced, I tend to focus on finding a way to get the people of Djohong and those who treasure its heterogeneous but peaceful and pastoral culture(s) and its way of existence to take their own destiny into their own hands. I don't know fully what that means, but it seems to me that Phyllis' mission was focused on helping people help themselves by having better information about their own health and safety and by respecting the values and customs of those around them and in modeling how to help others also my making the best use of your own resources (actualizing one's capacity).

It is good to attempt to find practical ways to offset the costs. That is one reason for my being interested in a 'conference' or public event since -- in one sense - this legitimizes my employer's partial funding (Kitasato University) of my visit to Cameroon and participation in the Djohong project. Fortunately, I was very convincing about its value the last time I participated (2000-1), so it is not really a hard sell for me to get permission to be away and also to apply some of my tri-annual conference funding for this trip. Kitasato University is with its four campuses along with its Kitasato Institute and its three large university hospitals is one of the larger medical and pharmacology research center in Japan. It is not a 'rich' nor does it have a huge endowment fund, but I am hoping to eventually (and I may not be able to so in time for this trip to Djohong) to get it to support a real international medical and health science research exchange with the people of Cameroon and also specifically to provide some logistically and financial support for a Djohong Community Self-Development Project.

I do realize that this is not an Earthwatch expedition, nor are there any actual organizations (commercial, non-profit, governmental or NGO) which are going to be able to help support us financially -- perhaps even for tax deduction purposes -- although I would think that even claiming this as a donation (of labor/expertise) should be possible with the US IRS (I am no expert on US taxes). However, seeking a more formal supportive relationship with such an organization in the future (nearer or far), or by our creating one of our own (in cooperation with our resources in three nations (USA, Cameroon, and Japan) could be one of the ultimate results -- actualized perhaps years from now, and probably should be considered -- even now - as one of the goals of bringing a new 'band' of international (and professional) volunteers to participate at the grassroots level in the Djohong Community Development Project.

The Cameroon Rural Community Self-Development Conference
or alternative Public (Relations) Event

Finally, I have suggested this idea of a 'conference' because that sounds 'official' and might generate seriously being recognized or merit having it announced / discussed. However, there could be other types of public events to draw attention to the need for and ways that a rural communities can participate actively in their own self-development. These might take the form of:

1. a concert, a recital, poetry reading, video showing, performance artist or art show a community event that has international guests
2. a public speech with or without panel discussion
3. a news conference
4. a benefit 'event' or open house at a museum or hall or performance space
5. a school visit or public lecture at local high school or college or a school event (speech contest, science or math fair, etc where 'special international guests serve as judges or offer the prizes (we could bring 'prizes' with us - books, dictionaries, useful supplies, etc)
6. speak as guest instructor or as visiting professor to give lecture(s) for a class or school group (secondary, university or professional education) - After all, we will have two professors from medical and pharmacy/nursing/veterinary schools - Nancy and David - if not everyone on the trip could be capable of doing so on a variety of topics
7. publicly making a donation (giving 'something' - -monetary or object - such as a donated set of microscopes or other medical or educational technology resources to a local hospital or educational institution

Donations: If we start now, any or all of us may be able to 'garner' donations of used medical equipment or used textbooks (in English or French), school supplies, medical supplies, etc. When I went before, I took about $700 worth of medical and school supplies as a donation. We don't have tax write-offs for such in Japan, but there are certainly such allowances in other countries, such as the US.

I think you can start to see the realm of possibilities for either a conference or another type of alternative public events. These would serve to publicize the ways that communities - even those short supply of basic resources can find ways to strengthen a sense of self-development and to enlist the cooperation of both those at home and abroad to make a physically healthier environment. I really don't believe that the people of villages like Djohong are at all any less happy than people in more developed (and seemingly richer) societies like Japan or the US, but there seems to be some needless loss of life (suffering and death) caused by lack of knowledge on preventing disease and suffering from these.

Best wishes to all and hope to hear soon from Betsy,Wanda, Stella (if she is going on this trip). In the mean time, I'm researching the travel and trip dates options more carefully.

Thanks to all,

David (Tokyo, Japan)

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Why blog? There are many reasons, but just remember that the problems with e-mail is one.

Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not be used for urgent or sensitive issues.
Due the enormous volume of spam and the need for increased protection from Internet-related fraud and electronic diseases( viruses/worms,etc), measures against these often have consequences for 'regular' e-mail - -which can be lost, misplaced and deleted, or never reach the intended destination due to increased security barriers, server crashes, and unexpected incidents.

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Offering Multiple Trip Schedule Options

We need to each start to speak up and offer ideas about the schedule and other things.

Just responding quickly (without completely doing my own homework) since Nick may have already left for Europe and may not be able to read email regularly.
Great news, Nick, to hear you have talked to the Lamido. Glad to know too that you would delay up to a week basically on my account. I am relieved to know that you'd prefer that we all arrive in Yaounde on the same flight and then go on to Ngaoundere and Djohong together. But slightly surprised to learn about the increased safety concerns.
Having some target dates simplifies things and also allows us to firmup real plans. I agree too about targeting the same day for us all todepart from the same spot (Zurich or Paris (CDG).
Actually there is probably too much to say to 'just write quickly'. So I'll write and then come back to make a summary at the first of this e-mail. If you don't have time, you can read it first, and then later fill in the bigger ideas with my smaller details and my rationale. Thanks for your patience.
SUMMARY of Trip Schedule IDEAS: Even if Nick can't respond now, I think it is time to hear from Nancy, Betsy, Wanda (and indirectly others) about how our proposed itineraries would work for you. NOTE: I have included 4 possible versions (changes) to Nick's proposed dates (trip schedule) below: at issue are departure and return dates (and the length of the entire trip); complicating factors are such that I think we need to build in some automatic flexibility (just in case things do not work out once we are there).

Plan A 3 weeks long (Sunday-Sunday)
This is Nick's June 23rd plan.
Meet in Zurich (or Paris) to depart Sunday, March 18, Swiss Airlines
Return from Djohong (April 4) to Ngaoundere then Yaounde, Dep April 8 (Sunday) arriving, April 9.

Plan B-1 3 weeks long
Meet in Paris (CDG), to depart Thursday,March 15; return from Djohong to be able to catch the return flight from Yaounde, April 5 (Thursday);

Plan B-2 2 1/2 weeks long
Meet in Paris (CDG) to depart Saturday,March 17 or Monday, March 19, then return to depart from Yaounde on April 5th (Thurs)
or if there is no Community Self-Development Conference (and little chance of a medical visit outside of Djohong), then possibly return earlier to depart April 1 from Yaounde).
There are several actual flight variations possible here.

Plan C Shorten the entire trip - 2 weeks long;
for example, March 18 (dep Zurich) - April 1st(dep Yaounde) on Swiss Airlines (Sunday toSunday)

Plan D Make set return dates
We could depart Europe for Yaounde on the same flight (March 15 or 18) and then allow for some of our group to return to Yaounde and to fly home earlier.

Obviously, this last scenario (Plan D) is based on the idea that:
1) that it would NOT be unsafe for us to split up
2) that the extra costs involved in splitting up (for some ground transportation, etc) would balance out.
3) that we could accomplish what we need to do and want to do in that time.

Splitting into separatly returning group would mean that car hire with Alim as driver would then involve two separate two round-trips to Djohong from Ngaoundere. Or we could use of bush-taxis for the separately returning groups. These would increase costs and perhaps increase physical risks.
The increased costs could be justified by a larger number of people actually participating overall.
Since Kate is not going and Nancy has somebody who may be interested. Stella may or may not be - I am not sure of her interestor ability to participate in this trip. Nick has included her in our e-mail communications.
Since we are planning on splitting the costs, the fewer number of people will mean a higher share - therefore we don't want to make the schedule so burdensome that some (or several) decide to drop out. At the same time, if there are too many participants and too many individual needs to meet, then it is also less likely that we can actually keep costs reasonable. Only so many people can fit in one van/jeep for the ride from Ngaoundere to Djohong.
But perhaps there may be some compromises to be made; for example, what if we were to all depart as a single group for Yaounde on the same date from ZRH or CDG, but we returned 3-4 days differently in two separate groups. This suggestion need to have feedback.

Personal Comments by David about the tentative trip schedule

Nick's suggested date to fly back to Paris on April 8 is a bit too late for me. Although my classes will not have started, freshmen orientation will have begun by Monday April 9, so I would be missing some of my job responsibilities (although I could probably be excused - especially since I have made the point of NOT missing them the March 10-12). However, all things being equal, I'd probably like to return from Cameroon before April 8.

I have to say too that with the uncertainties about whether we can actually DO anything very useful while in Djohong make me think seriously about staying for two ful weeks in Djohong village. It may be very pleasant and valuable in other ways but it is also somewhat of a burden to have put with 4-5 foreigners (feeding us and watching afterus) for our 'hosts'. I might imagine it being somewhat frustrating too for us to stay that long with a growing sense of having NOT been able to do much more than what we could have accomplished in staying just one week.

Nick has made it clear that a village medical check-up visit might not be possible even once it has been approved by the Lamido and arranged by Bah-Iya, and the team assembled in Djohong region, so it tends to make me consider shortening our visit there. At least, I want to think about whether or not we CAN actually do something useful on the medical / community health front, if we have set ourselves a week's stay, then we'll be sure to have done what we came mainly to do -- visit old friends, renew acquaintances, make new ones, assess the situation, and to renew the idea of returning to re-establish or continue Phyllis' work to some extent or to find a new way to participate in the joyful life and the struggles for daily survival of these people.

I am not insisting that we make our stay in Djohong shorter, I am just saying that if we REALLY can't be assured of accomplishing the medical visit, then we might rather plan better how we might spent our time in the country. I realize, however, in shortening the stay so much, it may be counterproductive since it could turn out to be just the opposite case. Perhaps we CAN do more once we are there than we can assure ourselves now and subsequently would probably be able to do more in later trips if we actually DO stay longer in Djohong this time. Also as time goes by we may find out things more concretely one way or another.

Another point is the length of the Earth Watch expedition was actually about 2 weeks long-- with only about one week in Djohong (considering the transportation times/logistics). Of course, Phyllis had everything worked out with her staff for managing the time and resources for such a short visit by the EW team. I know it is NOT the same now.

Nick's current proposal allows for a three week long trip which may be more than the others are expecting or can allow. I can do a 3 week trip but I would prefer March 15-April 5 (Thursday in - Thursday out).

Another option is 2 1/2 weeks for example: Depart March 15 and then return March 31 or April 2. There are obvious other variations on the dates/departure place/choice of airline.

We need to hear from others and it may take some more time to finalize things.

So I think we need to hear about the general expectations about these matters from some of the others.

If we can manage to actually do the Community Self-Development conference too that might mean adjusting so other conference participants' needs (in country) so it would seem to be better to place the possible conference at the end of our Djohong stay. Staying less days in the back country 'with a shorter stay in Djohong) is would also more likely allow us to coordinate schedules as the idea and realization of a conference takes shape.

If we are NOT going to pursue the idea of a conference or other 'public' events, and no one thinks it can happen, then we'd best just abandon the idea and can be left to plan without that extra 'event' to include. One way to compromise on the length/dates of the entire trip would be and the possibly accommodate for later developments would be to buil din some flexibility. For example, those who must depart Cameroon to return to work, etc, would be able to do so earlier (by skipping the conference and making professional connections or networking in Yaounde or just leaving Djohong earlier). That may or may not be advisable due to the possible necessity of our sticking together for safety reasons.

About choice of flights / airlines:
I too prefer Swiss Airlines -- mainly because it is now a Star Alliance member so connecting with my regular airlines from Asia or via JFK would be easier and it helps to earn miles. However, it seems that the Delta/AirFrance tickets are somewhat cheaper -- at least from the US and there are more frequent flights on Air France - that would be be good to have as a back-up in case things do not move along as planned in departing Djohong and getting back to the airport in Yaounde.

I too have no problem with either (once I can confirm actual prices and my itinerary I'll be in a better position to state my preference. It will be helpful to hear what others are thinking.

I do think it is an important consideration about the frequency of flights: there are more flights to go to and return from Yaounde on Air France. My instinct says that it would probably be wiser to use AF since-- we really DON'T know if we are going to actually get to do very much in Djohong -- as far as our volunteer medical health visits.

We also don’t know if there will be strikes or cancellation of the trains due to derailment or equipment problems etc, So I would prefer having the wider optiosn for get back to Ngaoundere/Yaounde and also for getting from Yaounde to Paris.

Further, if we succeed in being able to actually put on the conference or at least make more formal contacts and invest time in making professional relationships stronger, it won't be impossible to reschedule or change air flight reservations (there are 3 return flights a week on Air France). For example, if we missed the Sunday, April 8th flight back to Paris ( which is my wife's birthday and Buddha's birthday too -- besides being Easter), then I would be very late arriving back in Japan (where technically the school year has already started) and freshmen orientation has already begun.

If we ARE going to get meet up all together in Paris or Zurich around March 18 for Swiss or iif it could be Thursday, March 15 at CDG on Air France, then I can probably come either direction from Tokyo -- over Siberia or via the US. That gives me more options for doing the trip within my own budget.

If I am not 'shirking' or skipping out on my university duties and can then 'count' this trip as a professional development experience/a research activity /or an international exchange visit to represent my university (or the Japan-Cameroon Friendship society) etc (or all of the above), then I'll be able to get some funding from my university to help reduce my own financial burden, thus allowing me to apply my personal funds to help finance some part of the project.
For example, If I get my transportation funded by my university reseach funds (after approval by my department head), then I could provide a stipend for participants to attend or present at the Community Self-Development Conference (on April 2-3-4 or 5 (just one day but not sure which one ?) from my own personal cash resources.
Actually the conference (or public event - even just a news conference) could be even be on the 5th since our flight would leave at 20:35pm on April 5 - a conference in Yaounde from 10:00am-3:00pm could work that day. (Hey, I'm what is called a pragmatic optimist) = I hope for the best but like to be prepared for much less.
There IS another flight on Wednesday every week from Zurich to Douala on Swiss Airlines (272/273 but it stops first in Malabo (SSG) on the big island of Equitorial Guinea off the coast of Cameroon and I believe only travels to Douala (on Wednesdays, probably it is the same but either skips Douala and continues on the Yaounde on Sundays.) I am assuming that the transportation from Douala (via Yaounde) to Ngaoundere is even more irregular or fraught with risks, etc. When I went to Cameroon in Dec 2000, the EW participants first met up in Douala (Ibis Hotel) and then we flew via Yaounde to Ngaoundere (where we met Phyllis). There may, however, still be an overnight train from Douala to Yaounde (or even flights -- I'm not sure of either of those possibilities).
Things in Cameroon must have changed -- I guess it's to be expected. I am little surprised to hear that Nick is advised to be so careful about personal security/safely in Ngaoundere and that he has actually experienced that on his last visits. When I was there, we walked around safely at night-- we were accompanied by Danjie - of course. We stayed with Phyllis at the Relais de ????? (I forget the name of the 'auberge'/small hotel.. not too far from Danjie's house in Ngaondere). I went off by myself to make a phone call at one of the cabinet de telephone but I guess it was not very late and maybe things have changed for the worse as far as crime/security. I never once felt unsafe in any part of Cameroon - even walking around Douala City on my arrival and departing days -- again I was not alone. So - at this point, I would prefer the Thursday-Thursday plan (3 week trip, March 15 - April 5) that Nick mentioned (moving every thing up 4days) or have us consider even shortening the entire trip (2 1/2 or 2 weeks long).

These are only ideas for a tentative itinerary -- subject to the costs, to other's availability, and to our actual ability to make flight/train/hotel/dirver reservations and also considering holidays and practicalities on the ground in Cameroon (and in Djohong).

More about a Community Self-Development Conference
I couldn't be sure at this moment whether the Community Self Development Conference would be truly feasive or that we could pull it off successfully with enough participants to really matter. However, if Danjie can get us a place, then I think we can pull if off ourselves asa 'publicity' event - would that have any value, I am not sure.
Surely the American, Japanese, or other embassies/ consuls in the country might support the idea (although I doubt they would not fork out any money), but other developmental aid (and NGO workers) and assistance organizations may be willing to send participants. I would think that some government agencies, medical institutions or health agency or university officials / professors might want to attend or participate in some way.

If it were an likely event to happen, -- with a specific date, times and a location (and of course purpose), then we can ask for semi-governmental orgs as well as NPO, NGO, and cultural/professional associations to chip in some funding to pay for 'local' Cameroon people to participant (or present). I mean that there are such organizations outside of Cameroon that might support the idea. I doubt there is any money that could be collected from them- but I might be able to get some donations of funds as participant stipends for local people and local organizations to send participants. I have also mentioned that I can donate money for such a cause IF I get approval for using my research funding to attend.

I am just not sure which location would be best to try to hold it. Of course, Yaounde is bigger and an easier place as far as transportation and convenience goes. The media (Danjie) is there too, but it might have more 'national' or international interest or impact for it to be held closer to the very communities which are in need of self-development assistance / guidance. At least in Ngaoundere, it would be closer to Djohong so that the Lamido might be able to attend to represent his area's interest in self-development. However, if Danjie is now living in Yaounde, that may be the best place. My as-yet-unrealized but possible connection with a Yaounde soccer team(manager/coach) through the Japan-Cameroon Friendship Society might also make Yaounde the better choice for a location.

In the next posting, there is more discussion about the rationale for the 'conference' or other public event to help garner public and professional interest in and recognition for the Djohong Project.

I'll close for now and these are posted from our last few e-mails.
Regards to everyone,
David

Good News and Proposing Actual Dates

[Nick wrote by e-mail on Friday, June 23]

I spoke with the Lamido [in Djohong] today, and he is pleased to hear of our proposed plans.

Flight and Airlines Choices

Regarding the flights: Confirming David's research, as of today Air France (and its code share partners) fly Thursday, Saturday, and Monday. AF 940 from Paris, and AF 941 from Yaounde. Swiss (and its code share partners) fly on Sunday only. LX 276 from Zurich, 277 from Yaounde. I strongly encourage all of us to be on the same flight to Yaounde, whichever flight we end up choosing. (David, I have no problem postponing everything a week. Others??? Since your connections are the most complicated/expensive, why not find something reasonable and let us know what you propose. I can easily get to Paris or Zurich any day of the week. I *slightly* prefer Swiss, but have no problem with Air France.)

Trip Itinerary Constraints

I also know the flights arrive in Yaounde after dark, and that it is best to allow two nights in Yaounde, to allow time for visits, unexpected delays and to buy train tickets. The El Panadin Hotel was still good when I was there in January 2005.

The overnight train is still recommended, although we once took the bus because the train derailed. We were told the bus could be dangerous. The bus arrived in N'gaoundere after dark, and we were instructed UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES to leave the station until dawn the next morning. We (and everyone else) slept on our luggage.
It will probably take at least two days to provision in N'gaoundere. I propose we hire a car and driver to facilitate our shopping and the trip to Djohong.

So, that gets us to Djohong. What we will actually be able to do there is unknown. It will NOT be like an Earthwatch expedition because Madame Phyllis isn't there to arrange anything in advance. We can try, but we must be prepared for something different (or indeed for nothing) to happen instead of what we have planed. The hospital may be a sticking point ~ if the Doctors decide they can't or won't permit us to dispense medicines... Or we may not get permission from the Sous-Prefet... Or who knows what might happen. It is impossible to ascertain any of this before we actually arrive in Djohong in spite of the best intentions of Bah-Iya and the Lamido.

One other thing: Having a car is VERY expensive. When we went before, we had Alim drop us off in Djohong and we walked to the small villages and took the bush taxi back to N'gaoundere. I recommend that plan again, assuming everyone is physically fit.

Nick's Proposed Trip Schedule

Just for the sake of discussion, I now propose that if we arrive in country on Sunday 18th, we might consider leaving Djohong on Wednesday 4th April by bush taxi to N'gaoundere. We take the overnight train to Yaounde on Thursday 5th (arriving Friday 6th). We visit Dr Kinny's museum on Saturday 7th, fly to Paris on Sunday 8th (Easter Sunday) arriving Monday 9th. Or we could do the Thursday to Thursday, moving everything back four days, if that suited our plans better. When is Ramadan? Fete de Mouton? Other Cameroonian holidays that might conflict?

Regarding a Community Self Development Conference:
We have no connections to organize this. Hamidou Adama in N'gaoundere or Joe Danjie in Yaounde could perhaps find us a location, but nothing else. Maybe we need to think about this some more... Who would attend? Who would pay them to attend?

Oh, the blog looks great!
Cheers,
Nick

P.S. Nancy, please encourage Jody to contact us after July 15th. (I'm leaving for Europe tomorrow, so will be unavailable until then.) We should buy most medicines locally. I'm hoping we (you) CAN do mini-clinics, ideally with the participation of the local doctor, but that is one thing we'd need to get permission to do and we won't know for sure until we get there

Pre-planning for Djohong Project, March 2007 moves forward

Lastest news from Nick Thaw (via e-mail).

We have made significant progress. Kate has asked me to stress again that the trip will not be nearly as simple as it was when Madame Phyllis was there to organize and smooth the way. Having said that, I am confident that as long as we remain flexible, our friends in Cameroon will not let us down.We spoke by telephone with Bah-Iya twice this week. He said that going to the small villages en brousse in mid-March 2007 IS feasible, and he is willing to try to make the local arrangements. He said the equipment and most of the supplies (and client carnets) are as we left them and will be ready to go. (We would need to supply new medicines, of course.)

Bah-Iya recommends collaborating with the doctors in Djohong rather than involve Dr Valentine Ndikum, who is in another Province. Andre has moved away, but Dourandi and Bouba are possibly willing to join us on these parasite check/health education visits. I have arranged to telephone Bah-Iya again on September 1st to give/get an update.


Also, this week we have an appointment to speak by telephone with Lamido Yaya Doumba. I shall ask him for his permission to proceed, of course, and also ask him to write the necessary letters of invitation for us. And I spoke by telephone with Joe DANJIE ("The Cameraman") last week. He is now working with Cameroon Radio Television in Yaounde, and he is willing and able to make any and all arrangements for us there.Another friend is the Secretary General of the University of Ngaoundéré; Hamidou ADAMA. Perhaps he could facilitate the "Community Health Self-Development Conference David has proposed? I am waiting to receive an e-mail from the director of the Phyllis Jansyn Women's Center. It is possible that there could be some activity there that would coincide with our visit, but that is less certain.

A word about the dates and length of the project trip

The proposed dates are good, but we have to allow enough time. For example, if we left Boston on March 9th, we'd arrive in Paris in the morning of Saturday 10th and arrive in Yaounde the night of the 10th. Thus, as we would need to buy tickets in advance, we would probably not be able to take the overnight train to N'gaoundere until Monday 12th. If we spent two days gathering provisions in N'gaoundere, it would be Thursday 15th at the earliest before we arrive in Djohong. And to return to Boston for Monday 26th, we'd have to leave Yaounde on Saturday 24th, which would mean returning to Yaounde on Thursday 22nd (which means leaving N'gaoundere on Wednesday 21st), which means leaving Djohong on Monday 19th. Three days in Djohong is obviously not enough, so I propose we extend this by one week and depart Djohong on Monday 26th (to arrive in Boston on Sunday 1st April). David, what are the best dates for you? And how do you get to Douala/Yaounde from Japan? As you said, we could arrive and depart on different days and rendezvous as appropriate. And brace yourselves: The airfare will be about $2,000.

Kate has taken a job teaching at Keene State College for the next academic year which precludes her from participating in the trip or its organization. And I propose we wait to contact the others who might be interested in joining us until after our plans have solidified.In terms of approaching educational resources or NGO's, it will be difficult. Perhaps this trip should be conceived as a fact-finding mission! Whatever our itinerary, we should allow for time for visiting with people who could make a collaboration possible. Perhaps the Lamido would be of assistance, but it is hard to communicate... (David, how good are your French language skills?)

As a reminder, I have attached the old Earthwatch Briefing written by Madame Phyllis. I've excerpted some of it here for your convenience:

The objective of this project is to make a significant contribution to the quality of life of rural Cameroonians who live in remote villages by improving their health status. This will be accomplished by focusing on a chronic health problem – parasitic infection. Working with the villagers themselves, teams will work to reduce both the prevalence (current cases) and incidence (new cases) of infection by providing appropriate medical treatment, designing and disseminating targeted health education messages, building spring boxes to protect water sources, and building aesthetically acceptable latrines. Repeated visits will be made to each of the 17 villages in the study area for intervention and monitoring purposes. Volunteers will assist with all aspects of this public health project. Working with the Cameroonian Nationals (below), Volunteers will weigh clients, dispense medicine, record statistics, work with the laboratory technician to diagnose infection, keep client records, assist with or observe counseling sessions, help compile statistics and write reports, and build spring boxes and latrines (note: the non-use of latrines by village locals is a particular hazard for them).

Djohong Project Staff

• Dourandi Tchuekreo: Graduated as a nurse and laboratory technician from the École d’Agents Techniques Medico-Sanitaires at Maurou, Cameroon in 1988. He is certified as a Technician Adjoint de Laboratoir. Duties – Microscopic stool examinations and acts as general health consultant. He has a great deal of experience testing for and treating intestinal parasites, and he teaches a session on Traditional remedies and a search for medicinal trees and plants which you/we might find beneficial.
• Saidou Bah-Iya: Graduated from 6 years of primary school, was an apprentice tailor from 1984-1986, is active in community affairs. Duties – Health counselor and liaison between the project and the community.
• Bouba Koulagna: Received the diploma C.E.P.E. (primary school) in 1991. Bouba is an active member of the Djohong community, working on his various agricultural and fishery projects. One of his important functions is as a translator since he is fluent in several of the local languages and in English.

More background: Phyllis' project originally started with Health in Housing at SUNY Buffalo, a WHO sponsored program:

In 1985 and 1986 C.P. Raccurt et al. studied intestinal helminthiases in the village of Djohong, to test the drug, Albendazole. Djohong has a population of 2200 people. The Health in Housing (HIH) study subjects live in small villages (population 150 or less) off the public transportation route. The HIH laboratory technician examines the stool specimens immediately as they are presented in the villages. Raccurt et al. collected the specimens in formalin and saline and examined them in the Djohong hospital laboratory. For taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), Raccurt tested individuals from the Foulbé and Mbororo tribes (which he lumped together) and found that 8.3% of the 120 people tested positive. HIH, during its first year, found a higher percentage of positives. This might be explained by the much larger number (253) of Mbororo people that we examined, finding 17% to test positive, and less, 6.9% of 72 test subjects, from the Foulbé tribe to test positive. The two tribes are related. They have the same origin and speak the same language (with different accents), and are both mostly comprised of cattlemen. Culturally they are different. The Mbororo people, for instance, are very fond of raw beef, often eating pieces from a freshly slaughtered cow at fetes. The Foulbé are less likely to eat raw or undercooked beef. For ankylostoma (hook worm) Raccurt found among the Gbaya, Mboum, Laka, and Dourou tribes (again all lumped together) that 53% of 589 subjects tested positive. HIH found out of a test group of 111 individuals from the Gbaya and Mboum tribes that 29.7% tested positive. Perhaps this is because HIH examined fewer members of the ethnic groups who are farmers. Farmers are at particular risk of contracting ankylostoma because they work barefoot and barehanded in the soil. Examination techniques may have been a factor also. For schistome mansoni (intestinal schistosomiase), Raccurt found that 12. 3% of 763 subjects in Djohong tested positive. Djohong lies on a plateau. Upon first examination of study subjects on the plateau, HIH found 2.1% of 560 to test positive. HIH then conducted tests in the village of Bandai in the Mbéré Valley. The Mbéré River and its tributaries are infested with a particular snail that is the intermediate host of schistome mansoni. Initial tests indicated that 49% of the 145 people tested in the area were positive for schistome mansoni.

Intestinal parasites found by the HIH team in the Arrondissement of Djohong include:

Ankylostome (hook worm)
Ascaris (round worm) Seventy to ninety people in a hundred in tropical regions are infected (Gentilini and Duffo). However, the HIH team has found much less.
Anguillulose
Trechocephale
Oxyure (pin worm)
Taenia Saginata (beef tape worm)
Schistome Mansoni (intestinal schistosomiase)
Amebia
Giardia
Intestinal Trichomonas

What did I fail to mention? I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon.

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Possible Flight Intinerary from Boston to Cameroon

Delta/Air France and American/United/Swiss both fly to Yaounde each week. Here is the Swiss schedule for your consideration:
Flight Airline From To Departure Arrival Class
LX 53 SWISS Boston (MA) Zurich 18:55 - 09 Mar 08:15 - 10 Mar U-Economy
This is a codeshare flight. Please click on the flight number for more details.
LX 276 SWISS Zurich Yaounde, Nsimalen Arpt 12:15 - 10 Mar 20:25 - 10 Mar U-Economy
This is a codeshare flight. Please click on the flight number for more details.
LX 277 SWISS Yaounde, Nsimalen Arpt Zurich 21:10 - 31 Mar 06:25 - 01 Apr U-Economy
This is a codeshare flight. Please click on the flight number for more details.
LX 52 SWISS Zurich Boston (MA) 13:00 - 01 Apr 15:20 - 01 Apr U-Economy
This is a codeshare flight. Please click on the flight number for more details.

Another Flight Option from Paris (CDG) to Yaounde (NSI) via Air France (US site)

Departure flight Thursday, March 15, 2007

Flight Departure Arrival Duration StopsAircraft Class

AF940 10:30 AM Charles de Gaulle (CDG),Paris, FRANCE 7:05 PM Nsimalen (NSI),Yaounde, CAMEROON 08h35mn 1 StopOver ,332 Economy Class

Return flight Thursday, March 29, 2007

AF941 8:35 PM Nsimalen (NSI),Yaounde, CAMEROON 6:30 AM +1 Day Charles de Gaulle (CDG),Paris, FRANCE 08h55mn 1 StopOver ,343 Economy Class change your flight selection

Detail prices Total $1,015.02 Price Taxes incl 9/11 fee Passenger Total including taxes $911 + $104.02 x 1 Adult = $1,015.02 Total : $1,015.02