Bend Mt Bachelor and Scott Valley Rotary Clubs team up to help!
One special need that has surfaced is the prevention of an outbreak of Dengue Fever. (The link will take you to the CDC Fact Sheet on the disease.) In 2005, dengue was the most important mosquito-borne viral disease affecting humans; its global distribution is comparable to that of malaria. Each year, tens of millions of cases of DF occur and, depending on the year, up to hundreds of thousands of cases of DHF. The case-fatality rate of DHF in most countries is about 5%. Most fatal cases are among children and young adults. It is prevalent in Baja CA and the excess moisture will only exacerbate the problem.
There is no effective mosquito abatement program in Mulege at this time and there is an urgent need for an ongoing effective mosquito abatement program. Fortunately, D5110 clubs have joined to help.
The program is modeled on a completed WCS project in Los Barriles by Rtn. Paul Heidtke (Bend Mt. Bachelor) in conjunction with The East Cape Rotary Club. In 2004 The East Cape Rotary Club was established by several Mexican business people and Norte Americano Rotarians who now spend all or part of their lives in the East Cape area. The Club has made a tremendous difference in defeating diseases caused by mosquitoes, with their mosquito abatement program.
Mulege, a small village of about 2,000 inhabitants, is located on the East Cape, about midway down Baja California, map. Once a small fishing village, Mulege has attracted many Norte Americanos. The Mexican people in this area of Baja make their living primarily in the service arena surrounding the Mexican and Norte Americano fishermen and tourists who visit and/or have moved there as well as by Commercial Fishing. Their homes are modest but clean and they have made admirable efforts to learn English to make life easier for their new friends while still continuing to celebrate and enjoy their marvelous culture.
This is an incredible opportunity for us Fellow Rotarians of District 5110 to jump and Lend a Hand to help those in dire need in Baja California. As usual, Rotarians have met the challenge!
UPDATE Approved by the District Committee it has subsequently been assigned Matching Grant #62977 on April 4 2007. WCS Partners in the Project:
UPDATE Jan 2008
The equipment has been delivered to Mulege! Here is the latest news from Paul Heidtke in Mexico:
My wife and I drove to Mexico in our pickup truck and travel trailer, the mosquito fogging machine in the bed of the truck. We crossed the international boarder after three days of driving. Crossing at Tecate, Mexico we were waved thru inspections and were not required to pay duty on our equipment, thus saving about one thousand dollars for the good of the cause.
We arrived in Mulege three days after crossing into Mexico. I met with Jimmy, of the Mulege Club, and discussed options for delivering the fogger the next day. I had some concerns about off loading the fogger, since we had to use a fork lift to place it in the pickup and then required five men to lift a camper shell back on the bed of the truck, in order to cover the equipment. I was thinking we would need about six guys to transfer the fogger.
The next morning President Quito, who is also the local Fire Chief, arrived with two firemen and thru Mexican ingenuity had the fogger transfer to another truck and the shell back on my truck within thirty minutes.... This was done with only three guys!
President Quito and two other firemen, have been trained by the Public Health Department, to operate mosquito fogging machines and were absolutely delighted to have a brand new state of the art fogger. The Mileage Fire Department has a Station House and several pieces of equipment, but nothing under twenty or thirty years of age. Later that day I drove by the fire station and all of the firemen were pouring over the fogger. All I could see were MILES OF SMILES.
Kevin, this is a great project, and will make a huge difference in the health of the people of Mileage. Please pass on my personal thanks and congratulations to our fellow Rotarians who made this all possible.
Your friend in service,
Paul L Heidtk Mt Bachelor Rotary
Kevin Martin, Scott Valley Rotarian Email Me for Info
