Bye, Bye Malaria Society

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Bye, Bye Malaria President’s report  for the AGM to be held at 7:00pm, June 30th   2016

Our major project in 2015 was having four people attend the Natural Healing seminar in Ranchi India.  We financed 4 students, myself and the now board member, Dawnga, from Mizoram, plus two young Bihar Pastors.  Originally we had planned on three from Mizoram, however, at the last minute two had to cancel and through a series of minor miracles the Bihar pastors came.  They belong to a group who have planted, over the past 15 years, more than 50 churches in Bihar, Orrissa and Jakharand. They are committed to spreading the concepts they learned at the seminar throughout this network.

This seminar introduced me to the genius and spiritual depth of Dr. Martin Hirt, the founder and president of Anamed.  I came to understand the significands of Anamed, the wonderful blend of traditional and modern medicine, particularly the strengths and weaknesses of each. It was Martin’s wonderful teaching that convinced me that this seminar must be the foundation of our work in Mizoram.

So far this year our main project has been bringing the same Natural Healing seminar to southern Mizoram.  In March a total of 28 students attended;  22 were ZoClinic technicians, mostly from remote villages in southern and eastern Mizoram.  Each of these technicians has promised to concentrate on their own village, plus two neighboring villages.  One was a college teacher who has done a magnificent job of mobilizing the college into making natural healing a major school project.    Before I left Mizoram they had already started a good sized artemisia plantation.  2 students were from R&D department of the Baptist church.  This department is dedicated to improve all aspects of village life.  These two continually travel throughout Mizoram.  They will be conducting mini seminars.  The final three were nurses from other states in NorthEast India so the work is spreading beyond Mizoram.

Near the end of my stay I spent time with a new government experimental farm in northern Mizoram. Several plots of land have now been dedicated to artemisia.  Also with CDAR, an organization which works with over 5000 farmers, mostly in northern Mizoram, whose farms are certified organic.  CDAR is organizing a number of artemisia projects on these farms.

These initiatives have all been well publicized both on television and the printed media, so almost everyone in Mizoram is aware of the projects we have been involved in.  It is now up to the Mizos themselves to see them through to completion.

I have felt for years that the main thrust of any charity is to work themselves out of a job.  I am pleased to report that we are heading in that direction. For the past three years our major emphasis has been the eradication on malaria in Mizoram.  While that is still far from being accomplished we have basically done our part.

There are atleast four groups actively planting and propagating artemisia in a large way and training others to do the same.  The concept of natural healing is being taught throughout the state.  The project is getting wide spread media publicity. The hope is to produce  over 400,000 artemisia plants next year.  This should be enough to virtually eradicate malaria in all of Mizoram and reduce both the costs and suffering of cancer and several other diseases.  Many artemisia projects are now underway.

2015  saw us attempt to obtain a Canadian charity status.  Our first application was rejected. Then, after a very lengthy discussion with a government counselor, a revised application was submitted.  We have heard nothing since.  When I phoned, to talk to the counsellor, I found she had changed departments and I could not find anything about our application. 

There have been many achievements, however to date, we have not received enough donations to cover our costs.   Anamed’s invoice covering all aspects of the Mizoram seminar was $5000.00 Canadian. We didn’t have this money so I fronted $3000.00 before the seminar.  $1000.00 has since been raised through donations and selling of Darzo tea, which I brought from Mizoram.  This has now been sent to Anamed leaving $1000.00 owing to them. 

Dr. Hirt and I have been working on a letter aimed at encouraging NGOs and governments, in 54 malaria prone countries, to use artemisia to eradicate malaria and use it to reduce the cost and suffering of many other diseases.  If a number of these countries repeat the Mizoram experiment it should save them many millions of dollars and reduce much suffering and death.  If this dream becomes reality our tiny society has accomplished much.

As you will see from this attached letter Anamed has generously offered to send artemisia starter kits to these groups requesting them, free of charge. (One to each government and one to a Christian national church or NGO) This means these countries can begin to duplicate the Mizoram experiment with no cash outlay, just a commitment of labour and land and a promise to keep Anamed informed of the results.  This is outrageous generosity on Anamed’s part.

There are, of course, other things we can pursue to improve the lives of agricultural communities.  Two areas which could go a long way to meet the food needs of the developing world are aquaponics and raising rabbits for meat.  For the past 16 months I have been working closely with Jeff and Tracy Van Veen, who, working with YWAM, have introduced aquaponics to 10 tropical countries.  We have already made some headway in introducing rabbit rearing to Mizoram and several people have indicated an interest in aquaponics.  I hope to have my own small aquaponics set up operating by the end of July and intend to use the experience I gain to promote this industry.

The Van Veens have also introduced artemisia to many of their YWAM colleagues.

The day Martin left for home in Germany, a Canadian father and son arrived.  What a blessing they turned out to be.  They were Noel and Joe Haynes from Merritt BC and Victoria.  Noel is a retired forester who taught forestry in several developing countries. But, more important, particularly for Mizoram, was the project education system he developed while working with problemed youth and with First Nations Bands, here in Canada.  His son Joe is a church planter in Victoria. Joe has a very discerning mind and a great ability to communicate.

Doors opened in amazing ways and in a two week period they imparted their collective wisdom to over 500 college students.   Noel is now writing an e-book on his project education experience. This will be translated into Mizo..  There are many possible projects where Noel’s methods could be used to tremendously improve Mizo village life.  They were a Godsend!

The trip to Mizoram was not without its sadness.  The day before I left I attended the funeral of a lovely man who had been a great friend and mentor since 2000.  Zominga was man who crossed all denominational lines to work with Mizo youth.  He will be missed!

By this time next year my prayer is that we will have heard of great advances on the Mizo projects and they’re being duplicated in many countries.

I thank God for all of the progress and pray He will continue to guide us forward.

Submitted by:  Stuart Spani  President Bye, Bye Malaria Society.