Alumni Updates - Summer 2006

• A message from Maria Mugabo in Rwanda got buried in my inbox, so I'll share her comments now on her work (the email was typed in March): "Concerning my current job, Rwanda now is implementing a new strategy of preventing and treating Malaria in pregnant women this in the context of 'Roll Back Malaria'. As they wanted somebody who has experience in reproductive health, the ministry of health approached me and I accepted to rejoin them and I signed a contract of 11 months renewable with WHO. I can tell you is that I fill more comfortable and more happy in WHO/Ministry of Health then in UNDP."
  
  
• Femi Kayode writes that life in Namibia as a Nigerian national has his a temporary snag. He writes, "I have been having problems with immigration. My work permit has expired and we had filed for a new one since November last year. As I was preparing for my travels to Nigeria for my visa, I went to ask for my new work permit only to be told that my file was lost and I had to reapply. So I am stuck. I cannot leave the country and I cannot stay. Quite like Tom Hanks in "the terminal". Anyway, I am working on it and hopefully I will be able to go to Nigeria and get the visa in June." Since this email came through a few weeks ago, I have received a follow up that speaks of a "light at the end of the tunnel" and a determination to make it to Nigeria for his Philippine visa so he join the summer conference in Manila.
  
  
• While I know many of you received this email from Mana Rai in Nepal directly, I thought I would include it here for those who were not on her list, and to add it to our growing record of reflections from Fellows. She wrote, "Greetings from Democratic Nepal. At last Nepalese brought total democracy in Nepal. We had King's l autocratic rule since 2001. The unpopular king forcefully took over power from the Prime minister of Nepali congress democratic Mr Sher bdr Deuba. During these years Nepalese suffered a lot and all development programs were in turmoil. The ministers assigned by the king were players and loyal to king and ignored people's power. They declared the Maoists as terrorist. Both sides killed thousand of people. There were a lot of demonstrations organized by the political parties but the Govt. demolished them. Last year the political parties and Maoist made a consensus and seven parties lead the street demonstration. The party alliance worked for the first time. People came out in full strength of do or die stage. We have been through record less curfews. The political parties, civil society, doctors, nurses, engineers, lawyers and employees of govt. offices took part in demonstrations. During this demonstration security personnel shot dead 21 demonstrators, among them one was a woman sitting in the window of her house and thousands hurt. These deaths were the power and cause of public to go to demonstration. A month long nationwide strike was called by the parties and whole Nepal was under curfew. Thousands of people disobeyed the curfew and went for street demonstration. Hundred thousands of demonstrators were detained in military and police custody. Many were tortured and beaten by the security men. Now three ministers are in Jail (custody) others are in investigation and will probably be punished. The King's power has been cut down and it was wide praise and accepted. So let see the progress in the future. I personally thank you all who helped us to cope the situation and been in our side. Now the main agenda for us is to go for constitutional Assembly election."
  
  
• Word reached us this week of Nayat Karim's promotion in Pakistan. He will be moving from Gilgit to Islamabad to be the regional director for FPAP, and has this to say, "After serving for a long time with Family Planning Association of Pakistan in the Northern Areas, I am now shifting to Islamabad to assume the position of Regional Director for Islamabad region in the Family Planning Association of Pakistan. I will be looking after various projects in Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas beside coordination with donor community, international organizations and government agencies. I would like to thank all friends and colleagues who have been associated with me during my services in the Northern Areas." Before he relocated to Islamabad, Karim will be hosting Nancy Foote, a second year MPA student at the Evans School as a summer intern.
  
  
• And finally, Herby Derenoncourt was in touch with Steve and Aaron about an upcoming career change for him as well, that would see him relocating from Tanzania to Ivory Coast. He writes this about his new job opportunity, "The position is a Senior Project Manager - PEPFAR. As there is no USAID office currently in Abidjan for security reasons, all the projects are managed from Accra. They need a sort of coordinator of all the USAID HIV/AIDS funded project down there. I will leave Tanzania end of July. While waiting for security clearance (Which might take some time for a foreign nationals), all the family will be transiting to Zambia where Sonia has an offer as Chief of party for a Palliative Care program."