Arrived in Africa

Hello everyone,
this will be my first trip to Africa with the capacity to blog - to be in communication with you!
Please read it and respond. I look forward to hearing from everyone.
I made it into Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon "African Style" I slept the first night at the airports police departments metal bench. And I am glad I did. I was not picked up and it is too dangerous to ride a taxi at night in a city that I hardly know.
So, now I am at the Catholic Relieve Services Office blogging. Inbetween Kenneth and I went food shopping, frozen fish, pineapples, watermelon, papayas, limes, french bread - good stuff.
We ended up in a wedding processing down the street with music and dance and I got to kiss the bride and groom. Hope it will be contagious.

We will leave for Bamenda tomorrow. I will send you picktures of my now 4 year old Benwih. Last year she kept my upper boddy strength in shape by having me carry her around. I will try to post pictures of her. How appropriate. The first picture being of my very favorit child.

With heaps of love and peace
Check out our web site www.AIDSfreeAFRICA.org
Rolande

TropIKA: WHO launches OA portal to tropical diseases research

The World Health Organization has launched TRopIKA Tropical Diseases Research to Foster Innovation & Knowledge Application.

Thanks to Peter Suber on Open Access News.

Public Library of Science Launches Journal of Neglected Tropical Diseases

PLoS, the Public Library of Science, has just launched the peer-reviewed open access Journal of Neglected Tropical Diseases, according to their website the first open-access journal devoted to the world's most neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), such as elephantiasis, river blindness, leprosy, hookworm, schistosomiasis, and African sleeping sickness.

From the Guest Commentary in the inaugural issue by Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization:

The launch of PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases marks yet another turning point in the long and notorious history of some of humanity's oldest diseases....

Equity is a fundamental principle of health development. Access to life-saving and health-promoting interventions should not be denied for unjust reasons, including an inability to pay. The free availability of leading research articles will benefit decision-makers and diseases control managers worldwide. It will also motivate scientists, both in developing and developed countries....

Thanks to Peter Suber on Open Access News.