Jessica Stuart is a producer who has worked with Global Network in the past. Recently, she traveled to Burundi where she captured on film and camera a four-year national NTD program that is supported by a generous grant from the Legatum Foundation. The program has been supported and implemented through a partnership that includes the Global Network, the Burundi Ministry of Health, Geneva Global, CBM, and SCI. We will be featuring excerpts from Jessica’s experiences in Burundi; below is the first entry from her notes:
Sunday June 19, 2011- Arrival in Bujumbura
Keith Walker and I met up in DC and traveled together from Dulles Airport to Addis Ababa to Nairobi to Bujumbura….
Map is an edited Google Map
About 16 hours. We reached the airport in Bujumbura which looked something like a building out of the cartoon Superfriends. Several large bubbles, or igloos, or something. I’ve not seen anything quite like it before.
When we arrived at the hotel, we met up with our soundman Kenny Geraghty, who had flown in from Capetown, South Africa earlier in the day.
Our family was together again.
(From l tor: Film Crew: Keith Walker, Jessica Stuart, Kenny Geraghty)
Kenny, the gentle giant- hysterical- warm-and has more experience in his pinky than most have in a lifetime. Keith is the most ridiculously talented and relentless shooter that makes all the women blush. And then there is me. Even though we only meet up in bizarre places in the world, every time we are together it’s like coming home.
We are traveling together this time to document the work of the Global Network and its partners, working to eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases around the world.
NTDs ravage countries like Burundi. They affect the poorest of the poor- the bottom billion, often invisible to the outside world. The amazing thing- these diseases are preventable and treatable- for less than $1.25 a day.
I still can’t get over how utterly cruel NTDs are. One has to look way below the surface, to the bottom poorest billion in the world to find them. These diseases keep children out of school, are debilitating and disfiguring, and cost billions of dollars a year in lost worker productivity. These diseases cause stigma in the community. They are the cruelest of the cruel.
Lush agriculture in Northern Burundi.
Burundi has its own political and infrastructure issues, along with such sickness. Civil War and Genocide plagued the country for years. It was only in 2008 that a peace agreement was made between internal warring factors. The country is filled with kind and curious people–people who want work and prosperity NOW. They want to put the “crisis” (as they call it) behind them. Burundi is beautiful. Everywhere we look there are tea plantations, coffee farms, rice fields, banana trees, and pineapples. This is a country that could prosper on its own. But something like Neglected Tropical Diseases keeps the people down.
I’ve learned the entire country of Burundi is at risk of infection by at least one STH (Soil Transmitted Helminthes- or worms). Half the country is at risk for schistosomiasis, and trachoma is a serious public health problem.
We are traveling through Burundi with a fantastic group, led by Wangechi Thuo of the Global Network. Gechi is whip smart, beautiful, and funny. She has arranged a journey through – literally – the entire country of Burundi over the next 5 days. The Global Network has worked for the last 4 and 1/2 years to develop an infrastructure to distribute drugs to battle Neglected Tropical Diseases. This trip will be to demonstrate the culmination of their incredibly hard and dedicated work to get drugs and treatment to everyone who needs it.
(From l-r: Wangechi of Global Network; Louise of Geneva Global; Guiseppe of SCI)
Louise Makau-Velle from Geneva Global is also on our journey. No nonsense, a math whiz, not one to mince words, and funny as hell, Louise makes sure we eat on time. She won’t hesitate to hit the grill or go back in the kitchen if it’s taking too long. Louise represents Geneva Global is an amazing donor that connects investors with the most effective and life changing programs in the developing world.
Guiseppe, or Guise (joo-zee) is from SCI, or the schistosomiasis control initiative. An Italian living in the UK, she is shy, has a great smile, and is filled with pure curiosity and desire to make her project works. , SCI can see a world free of NTD’s. And, a private donor has funded deworming on a National level in Burundi for the next two years. That donation could literally change the course of a country.
Our leader is Dr. Onesime with the Ministry of Health. His title is director for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Blindness control for Burundi. He has a magnetic laugh, a love for beer, and a very very very difficult job. Like all Burundians we have met, he’s warm, he opens all doors for us, and is proud to show us how the work is reaching the far remote areas of Burundi.
Burundi has no ATMs. They don’t take credit cards. Anywhere. If a US dollar has a crease or bend in it, it’s unacceptable. Any US dollar printed before 2003 is void. Money is a challenge and the first thing we needed to deal with on Sunday.
Because the forex is closed on Sunday, Dr. Onesime brings Forex to me. The Forex is actually a large man with a gold chain around his neck. When I hand over US cash, the man reaches into his sock and pulls out a plastic bag full of cash. He then reaches into his back and pulls out another plastic bag full of cash. And yet again, reaches into another pocket and pulls out another wad of cash. You see, 1 US dollar equals 1260.00 BIF. It’s a confusing exchange and it seems like a LOT of bills were transferred in the process. But the Forex man, complete with calculator, gives a fair trade with an awesome exchange rate.
We have a gaggle of security guards with us. Burundi is considered an “unsafe” country, even though I felt quite safe all of the time. BUT when traveling with so much equipment on dirt roads into far off places, it was better to be safe than sorry (I have certainly been sorry before). Our security travels in a pickup truck with 4 officers sitting in the back. They are diligent in their jobs, and have a sweet demeanor about them that allows them to be respected and trusted at the same time.
Guise and our translator, Gerard share a laugh
Gerard is our translator. He speaks impeccable English; proper and always with a smile. Although he’s never been outside Burundi, his knowledge and ability to pick up the language is remarkable. He is so proud of his abilities, and has an insatiable curiosity for the world outside Burundi’s borders. He asked us, “What happens at the airport? What happens when you fly?”….all with a look of awe and wonder.
I know now that this will be one heck of a great experience. I don’t know anyone who has filmed in Burundi yet, so I feel grateful we are there and exploring new territory and telling a VERY important story.
Jessica Stuart is an award winning producer and consultant. Her video work and live productions have been seen around the globe- on television, the web, and in theaters. She has worked for NBC Network News, The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC Network News, and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In September 2008, Jessica created Long Story Short Media, an independent creative consulting and producing firm, specializing in short form, multi-use content. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband, David, her son Alexander, and their rescue dog, Riley Martin.