May 09 Newsletter

TWO TAMPLINS IN AFRICA April/May, 2009 Issue 4 PO Box 705, Mbale, UGANDA www.tamplins.blogspot.com Email: Natasha– [email protected] Ian– [email protected] Support us at: www.tear.org.au/projects/field-workers/ian-and-natasha-tamplin We‘ll start off an apology—for those who received our Newsletter last February (Issue 3), it was supposed to be dated 2009, not 2008. Oops! We guess that‘s what happens when life is keeping you busy — you miss the small details. Things here in Uganda have really been turned upside down in the past few months: evil witchcraft practices of child kidnappings and beheadings; random cutting-up of motorbike riders at night; genital removal of kidnapped people; accidental setting off of a grenade killing 4 children and injuring 20 others; children dying daily from lack of adequate malaria drugs/treatment; and a CHOLERA outbreak! No missing the details with this one! But on a happier note, the rains have finally come—the delay of which got people seriously worried as most family‘ food supply had finished.

AT THE OFFICE Tash For those interested in the progress of LAMPS Project, here are the most recent highlights since February:  By the end of May, 44 Fight Malaria Committees (out of project target of 56) will be trained and active  Over 3000 long-lasting treated mosquito nets have been distributed to every household in 23 villages (after FMC records a household census of the whole village)  Consultations continue with the Ministry of Health discussing a proposed trial production and testing of a natural repellant smear/lotion (with essential oils) that is affordable and appropriate for the local communities  On 13th of February the project was officially launched at the sub-country headquarters. The big event with a march from the UWCM offices led by the Mbale Youth Brass Band, and included speeches, football match, musical performances and a friendly competition in malaria songs and poems between the 4 LAMPS Pilot villages. The function was successful with a large crowd and invited guests from the District.  On April 22nd, Mr. Jamie Edgerton, our technical adviser from Australia, arrived to facilitate the preparation of a strategy with District officials to scale-up the LAMPS Pilot Project to the whole District. The District Health Officer and three other District officials joined Jamie and senior UWCM staff in a field visit to witness two concurrent trainings of Fight Malaria

Committees. They were greatly impressed, and the DirectHealth Officer exclaimed that “LAMPS needs to be expanded to all 553 villages of Mbale District”.  A Joint UWCM/District Planning Workshop for LAMPS Scale-Up, and the 8th LAMPS Project Stakeholder Meeting were conducted in May. Despite initial challenges and setbacks, the workshop outcomes are promising. Our external evaluation consultant gave an upbeat assessment of the early LAMPS Project outcomes, and all stakeholder agreed that the LAMPS strategy should be scaled-up and integrated with the District‘s proposed roll-out of a Primary Health Care programme. This will require serious fund-raising and careful planning.

Ian 

Ian continues to be constantly busy dealing with various IT and computer problems at UWCM and various other Christian organizations. This has turned out to be a fulltime job (and even after-hours work at times). In the past few months, he has re-established office network systems; fixed internet phones, inverters, generators and UPSs; recovered lost data on other missionary‘s computers; and daily deals with the constant reoccurrence of viruses that attack all computers he is responsible for. Because a majority of people here can‘t afford the Internet, their antivirus programmes don‘t get their periodic updates. This means that each time anyone uses their USB flash drive at an Internet café, they re-infect their computer with more viruses. Mr. Robby Keen, the Director of Jenga, writes:

“Ian has been giving us ongoing invaluable support here at JENGA (Christian charity) with our IT set up and systems.

These IT problems were really impacting the work we do in the communities and driving us crazy. Thanks to Ian, we have now purchased and installed a brand new top-of-the-range inverter (power back up system) and batteries to solve the constant power supply problems. Ian has also set up a PC on every desk of the team and networked them all! I am now happy to report that we have 18 computers up and running. With these changes, we are now freed up to crack on with both the development work and ministry/ spiritual “IAN” continued on page two

REALITY BITES She was only 6 years old when malaria killed her. Little Deborah was the key support for elderly HIV+ father and disabled aunties as she collected the daily water and made sure they ate full meals. She was the type of little girl who made sure all her classmates at Kindergarten said their prayers before eating. Such a sweet little thing — and all it took was one mosquito bite infecting her blood with malaria and no access to correct treatment. I watched in dismay as her father grievde while lowering his daughter’s coffin. Sadly, this is a regular occurrence here in Uganda, as the malaria crisis is worsening. There is almost no supply of first-line malaria drugs (Coartem) and the treated mosquito net provisions are diminishing. Despite the availability of Global Fund money, the muchneeded drugs, nets and microscopes are nowhere to be seen. Hundreds of children die daily as a result, many with over-doses of the 2nd-line treatment of Quinine, or simply no treatment at all Little Geoffrey was about 9 years old, but in a 6 year-old body with a 4 year-old personality. He was consisting disturbing our training of FMCs by running through the benches, playing in the dirt naked, and making queer noises (he couldn’t talk). As cute as he was, there was no mistake that he was a victim of malaria — his brain permanently damaged by inadequate treatment as a child. He is now left with no hope for the future, labelled as a nuisance and useless, and treated as an outcast Child kidnapping / sacrifice / Genital mutilation is on the increase here in Uganda. For obscure reasons ,it seems that heads of children (and even some adults) are worth millions of shillings for witchdoctors. For example, little George Mukisa [3 years old], was a lucky one to survive — his father went looking for him after he went missing, only to find him abandoned in a banana plantation, lying in a pool of blood. The witchdoctor had held him down with the help of two men and cut off his private parts using a razor blade. The genitals were found in the neighbor's shrine.

BETHEL CHURCH This past quarter has been challenging for members of Bethel Church — some experiencing serious ‗physical attacks/spiritual warfare‘. However, the congregation is expanding monthly and in particular with Muslim converts.  In the beginning of May, 18 new believers were baptized. We could not use the waterfall/river near the church in Mooni because of the cholera outbreak. 17 of the 18 had been Muslims. This included the group of 7 men who were saved together in April. Others included family members led to Christ by a young girl. She had been persecuted in the home by her Muslim father and brother, but now the whole family worships with us at Bethel. Praise God!  Bethel has committed as a church to support the education of 10 orphans/ children. Some of them were sent away from home because families are still Muslims; others are simply orphans who have no support. The church has taken them in for education, as we know they are capable of doing so well and have shown commitment to the church. The church members themselves who contribute cash, but this is a time of scarcity so people are struggling to afford contributions. Four children so far have got funding from oversees, but the rest still struggle.  Lately the practice of cutting people‘s heads for witchcraft has grown. People are living in fear. Pastor Vinnie and Grace still thank God that their son David survived the day he went missing and was found at the home of his ‗friend‘, whose father has been noted many times as one who is an agent in child kidnapping for witchcraft. Some people are saying that this surge in witchcraft has been caused by the hard times here in Uganda.

Ian outreach which is far more exciting and impacting then screaming at a dead computer!” 

Ian has also spent many hours assisting at JOY Hospice and CURE Children‘s Hospital with their computer systems.

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He has submitted first module for his Diploma in Alternative Energy

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He is enjoying improved health and energy, but still suffers daily from chronic back pain.

CHALLENGES and Prayer  We strongly rely on your monthly con-

tributions and sadly have to say that is still is too low. Please, if you are able to do without a few coffees a month and instead contribute to our costs, it won‘t go unnoticed. You can support us directly contact TEAR Australia, or via our blog. All donations are tax deductible.

 National shortages of Coartem (the

government-funded drug to treat malaria) is causing hundreds of children to unnecessarily die each month. Please pray for the release of this drug nationally.

 The LAMPS Pilot Project ends in De-

cember this year. However, there is need for a continuation to sustain the hardworking FMCs as well as to maintain the LAMPS team, as efforts are being made to integrate the LAMPS project into the existing government health systems. Please pray for guidance and direction, as well as success in funding raising for next year.

 Pray for the Muslim converts at Bethel

church who still face persecution by families and friends.

 As our placement in Uganda with

TEAR comes to an end in the New Year, the need here continues. We ask for prayers as we consider our future, be it in Uganda or Australia.

CONTACT TEAR Phone: 03 9264 7000 or 1800244986(Free call) Web: www.tear.org.au Email: [email protected]

TARGET MAGAZINE For an―in-depth, eyewitness accounts‖ of the work of TEAR‘s Australian and International partners, you can read their free quarterly magazine called TARGET at http://www.tear.org.au/target (or you can contact TEAR to be sent a free copy).