Our intended timeline for rolling out the same services to the other 5 Boma of Kiloki, Ndemwa, Loongooku, Elerai, and Ngolola was early April. Dealing with manufacturers and service providers in an impoverished country half way around the world, trying to put plans into action, is not always a simple process. We found ourselves negotiating with A-Z Textiles, the provider of ITN’s, for a reasonable price, because we were in the peak of malaria season, and the nets had a premium. After much negotiation, we were able to get the nets for an acceptable and affordable price of $7 each. These nets will last 5 years. This delayed our deployment of the medical team and nets to our friends in the Olduvai Region until May.

As you all know, it was my intent to travel to Tanzania to particpate in the delivery of Nets, medications and test kits and to particpate as part of the field team. However, concurrent with all of this planning, one of our children has been diagnosed with a medical condition that has required surgery and follow up that did not allow for that trip. We could have waited a few months, but malaria was hitting the six Boma very hard and the Maasailand Health Project Board of Directors made the decision to send our on the ground partners, Terrawatu, into the field.

They were sent on May 18th. I have been in contact with our friend, my Maasai son, Metwiy Sabore. Here is a clip from his email:

Hi dad, hopefully your fine, we have completed the job. It was verry
>>>> good,
>>>> a lot of people has get tretment. And their are very happy with this, on
>>>> behalf of them i represent their thanks to you and your board

Am very happy to hear that you will fly to Tanzania on the end of the
>> year. It will be great to see you again. How is your child who were sick?
>> I tryed to send you some pictures but internet network was very bad it can
>> not attach. I sent vie post adress i scaned to the CD. I hope after five
>> days you can receive. Thank you very much dad, and our living God may help
>> you too in your life.

The goal of Maasailand Health Project is to assist our Maasailand friends in developing a plan of health care that will eradicate malaria and improve general health in these six Boma. We will continue with semi-annual field team trips, and continue our fund-raising efforts. Our Tanzanian Coffee through Princess Valiant, www.princessvaliant.com is an on-going fund-raising event. In four months, we have generated $929 in revenue through the generous partnership through Princess Valiant. We currently have approximately $1,000 in the bank, and the cost of a three day field mobilzation and medication will run approximately $3,000 every six months.

It is my intent to travel to Tanzania in October for the next field team visit. If any of you are interested in participating, please let me know. I would like to start planning for this soon.

I am grateful to all of you for your generous donations. Very greatful. I am humbled by our sweet, kind friend, our adopted Maasai son, Metwiy Sabore. He is working hard for us and for his people.

I will send photos and update our website when I recieve the CD in the mail.

I offer my sincerest gratitude for your kind donation,

Tom

To date we have raised $7,060 in actual cash. We have another $1,750 in pledges still due to come in. This brings our total fundraising dollars to $8,810. I am in awe of the support from our community, family and friends.

We have extended this fundraising drive to go through the end of March with the hope of reaching our goal of $10,000.

I am currently negotiating prices in Tanzania with a variety of providers as prices have gone up due to the onset of Malaria season, but we are making progress and I hope to have this completed by April 1 as well.

Thank you all for your support.

Asante Sana,

Tom

Tom Curry will be available to discuss the Maasailand Health Project and share recent communications from Metwiy Sabore of Olduvai Boma, the village Maasailand Health Project assisted last December.

Nancy O’Gorman for the beautiful website and blog design. Nancy is owner of O’Gorman Web Design and can be reached at www.OGormanWebDesign.com

Jenn Putnam of Jennergy, Inc. www.jennergy.com for our awesome new logo design. Notice the Maasai woman silhouetted in the trunk of the African acacia tree. This logo truly catches the spirit of Maasailand and the Maasailand Health Project.

Denise Brennan, owner of Princess Valiant Coffee www.princessvaliant.com for creating the coffee and chocolate fundraising event. Please visit Denise’s website and purchase a pound of our Tanzania Peaberry coffee or some Tanzanian chocolate. All proceeds go directly to Maasailand Health Project.

A true heartfelt thanks to these very special women who donated their time and talent to help move Maasailand Health Project forward.

Bed nets and supplies being delivered in the village

Great news!

Our first shipment of 100 nets, 50 blood test kits, 30 treatments of medication, and training for our friend Metwiy all took place this past weekend.

After much research, we entered into an agreement with Terrawatu, a Non-Government Agency based out of Arusha. They provided the supplies and transportation needed to outfit this village in our effort to eliminate the threat of malaria.  In addition, we had Dr. Isack Kuysa of Arusha, Tanzania provide medical training on site at Oldupai Boma. All of this has been accomplished with $2,000 in cash, lots of research, and a commitment to help a portion of the Tanzanian population, the Maasai, that is grossly underserved.

This is our first of many steps.

Thank you to all who have contributed time, talent and money in making this come together.

Posted by Tom Curry at 12/21/2009 5:15 PM

Tom Curry with Metwiy in Tanzania

Progress made by Tanzania Relief Fund in One Month:

1. We incorporated as a Non-Profit Corporation in the State of Washington in mid-November 2009.
2. We set our first Board of Directors meeting for January 11, 2010.
3. We have done massive research and communication with numerous agencies in Tanzania and in the U.S.
4. We have developed a relationship with a Non-Government Organization in Tanzania called Terrawatu to provide mosquito nets, blood test kits, and medication.
5. We have developed a relationship with a physician to train Metwiy (the english teacher from Oldupai Boma (the village we visited on our way out of the Serengeti).
6. Our first delivery of 100 Nets, 50 blood test kits, and 30 treatments of medication are being delivered next week.
7. Terrawatu representatives will photo document, the procurement, transportation and delivery of the nets, test kits and medication, as well as the training of our Metwiy as a para-medical assistant for his village.

Posted by Tom Curry at 12/17/2009 9:19 PM

A doctor helping Maasai children.

From: “METWIY SABORE” <metwiy@yahoo.com>
To: <tcurry@tanzania-rf.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2009 8:37 AM
Subject: RE: Money has been sent

Thank you very much! May God help you too, by geting this nets and medicine i hope no child who can die with maleria this season. We do lost 1 or 2 children every year. Thank you to make this happen. I were traveling from Arusha to endulen hosipital in ngorongoro and back to day. There one woman from our village her child sick lungs dieses child could not breath very good  and when she cough a litle blood droped. I dont know how they call that diseas in english. I came from there now and will be on the way again tomorrow with doctor laizer.  Metwiy.

Posted by Tom Curry at 12/17/2009 9:15 PM

(Comment:  On 12/17/2009, Sherry Pagnotta wrote:
It is so gratifying to have this contact with Metwiy and hear about his village and people and the progress that is being made, due to the hard work and persistance of Tom Curry.)

Maasai villagers gather to greet us.

We have been very fortunate to identify on the ground suppliers for the Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN’s), the medication, and malaria test kits.

The nets are going to be purchased through A-Z Textiles in Arusha.

The medication and blood test kits will come from MMT Pharmacy.

The estimated cost for nets for the Oldupai Boma, which is Metwiy’s village, will be approximately $700 U.S.

The estimated cost for the medicine (30 doses) is approximately $250 U.S.

The estimated cost for the blood test kits (50 kits) is approximately $82 U.S.

So friends, to summarize, we can make a significant difference in the lives of this village, 92 people, for an estimated cost of $1,032 U.S.  There will also be transportation costs, still unknown, and the cost of training Metwiy, but we are making great progress.

There is a possibility that Metwiy can recieve training through Terrawatu contacts, but we are also looking at Endulin Hospital which is in the Ngorogoro district.

If you have not donated yet, please send a check.

Thank you,

Tom

Posted by Tom Curry at 12/11/2009 7:26 PM

In 12 days we have gone from incorporating as a Non-Profit Organization, to opening a bank account and collecting donations. This is very exciting.

Thank you so much to our inaugural donor, a member of the group I travelled to Tanzania with last February.

I look forward to holding our first board meeting and to planning our first fundraising event.

Thanks to all who are reading this!

Tom

Posted by Tom Curry at 12/1/2009 9:07 PM

(Comment:  On 12/3/2009, Sherry Pagnotta wrote:
How exciting and I am sure gratifying for you and Rhonda and all involved.)