The Job Possibility That Eric Passed On...

Medical Entomology Coordinator,
Equatorial Guinea Malaria Control Initiative

The Equatorial Guinea Malaria Control Initiative (EGMCI) is a five-year, $25M program,
funded by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and by Marathon
Oil Company, which seeks to substantially reduce morbidity and mortality caused by malaria on the Equatoguinean mainland. The EGMCI’s interventions are centered on indoor residual
spraying, distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets, case management, and
monitoring and evaluation.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience required of the Medical Entomology Coordinator:

• MA in Medical Entomology (or equivalent) with experience in designing and implementing
vector control programs for malaria control.
• Field experience working as an entomologist preferably within a malaria control program is
highly desirable. PhD studies will be considered as compensatory for lack of applied field
experience.
• Good interpersonal skills, team player, able to work under stress. Sensitivity to the concerns
of the developing world and able to work with local and national authorities and community-
based providers from different cultural backgrounds.
• Good oral and written communication skills, Spanish with knowledge of English and/or
French an additional asset.
• Highly computer literate, familiar with Windows® programs for word-processing,
spreadsheets, database management, statistical analysis, presentations, and electronic
communication.

Overview of Position: The Medical Entomology Coordinator (MEC) is responsible for in-
country technical and implementation support for all vector control activities including indoor
residual spraying (IRS), environmental management, the distribution of long lasting insecticide
treated nets (LLITNs), as well as the information, education and communications (IEC) for these vector control strategies. The MEC will supervise and support the work of the IRS Advisor and the OWDG Vector Control Team to ensure the effective implementation of IRS activities, with technical support from Medical Research Council of South Africa (MRC) and the MCDI Home Office. S/he will oversee development of an LLITN “keep-up” campaign. The MEC will assume primary field-level responsibility for establishing and overseeing the management of the Insectary and Vector Control Laboratory, receiving technical support from MRC and other partners as pertinent.

Start of activities: October 2008

Location: Position is based at EGMCI offices in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, and entails
occasional travel inland.

Term: Twelve months (renewable)

MCDI offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including paid housing and health
insurance, two trips yearly to home of record and free anti-malarial medication.

Applicants should send CV and cover letter to mcdi@mcd.org
The subject line item should read Malaria Program Medical Entomology Coordinator


We particularly liked the added benefit of the free anti-malarial medication. When I was dating Eric, I was excited that he was this science guy that was doing something to keep people from getting nasty diseases all over the world. Sounds romantic until you have to pop some quinine pills, right?

So we'll not be helping to save the world there this year!

Fall Fun

We've had our first Halloween outing at the church. Benjamin and Isaac have been very inspired by Neverland lately. Benjamin wanted to be Peter Pan and Isaac wanted very much to be Captain Hook. We thought that Dylan could be the baby but it would be more fun if he were Mr. Smee--plus it's cute when his belly sticks out. For once I actually had all their gear ready way ahead of schedule. But then the boys decided that their puppies needed costumes too. "See Mom. Pup-pup's rattle in his belly sounds just like Tinkerbell." So we've been doing a lot of flying around here with Pup-pup shaking all that pixie dust on us. I wonder what else pixie dust might do for us? Can't wait to see the rest of you in your Halloween finery.

P.S. Boy did Isaac get a kick out of the Trunk or Treating. His little eyes just GLOWED when he figured out how the gig worked. And did he ever work it. He would stand in front of someone. They would give him candy and then instead of moving on, he would just keep on standing there smiling. So, of course, people couldn't resist him. So, he would get some more candy. This would go on until I would nudge him towards the next vehicle. He would not for anything in the world let anyone else carry his pumpkin full of treats. The allure of sweets...and it was after all the promise of sweets that kept him in most of his costume most of the time--including wearing the "bib" (what he called his frilliness up front).

No Fear Here

These three guys obviously did not inherit their father's fear of high places. Here's the latest view from "On Top of Stone Mountain...." And even when mountain climbing, Isaac still thinks about swimming...