Doctors hope 'net' gain will save children's lives
Published Tuesday September 2nd, 2008
They accepted $5 bills hand over fist and stuffed the cash into expanding envelopes, but two Fredericton physicians know it'll take more than money to help the children of Malawi.
Dr. Stephen Hart and Dr. Mark Messenger will travel to the African country as part of a medical mission Sept. 11.
The two doctors spent Saturday morning at the Boyce Farmers Market collecting donations for the cause.
All of the money will be used to purchase and distribute mosquito nets for families living near Lake Malawi. Each net costs $5.
The doctors will also spend two weeks teaching parents and village leaders how to use the nets, and providing medical treatment to as many people as they can.
The nets help guard against malaria - a disease spread by mosquito bites. About one million African children die each year from the preventable illness.
Hart and Messenger decided to join a team of Atlantic Canadian medical professionals heading to the region after hearing some first-hand accounts of the battle against malaria.
"We know a Canadian physician that's been in Malawi for 12 years, and we've heard his story and he needs help," he said.
"So we took up the cause."
Hart said the money they collect will make a major difference in the villagers' lives.
"Every cent of the $5 (donations) will go directly to Malawi and it's spent in that country," he said.
"It's a benefit to their local economy, and it's also a benefit to the children of those communities."
Messenger, who works as a pediatrician, said the Atlantic Canadian medical team will be offering the people of Malawi more than a donation. He said they'll also be offering their medical expertise.
"The nets are just a small part of what we're doing," he said.
"We're doing medical clinics the whole time we're there. We're travelling to rural villages and doing medical care - me doing pediatrics and the rest of the team practising their specialties. The nets are really the public health initiative.
"We'd like to leave something behind there."
Messenger said he's been inspired by Fredericton's generosity.
"I think people see this is a very tangible thing they can give a donation to," he said.
"They know this is going directly towards helping a child."
The physicians said there's still time to donate to the cause. Cheques can be made out to EMAS Canada and sent to:
Malawi Medical Team 2008
20461 Trans Canada Highway
PO Box 90
Crapaud, P.E.I.
COA 1J0.
Donations are also accepted online at www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=d39577. Select Malawi-Lifeline Malawi in the Fund/Designation box.
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