Thailand RPCV Dr. Katherine McNally heads to tsunami-stricken Indonesia



Thailand RPCV Dr. Katherine McNally heads to tsunami-stricken Indonesia

Local doctor heads to tsunami-stricken Indonesia

January 19, 2005

By EMILY BRADY
ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

A family practice doctor from Kaiser Petaluma was among a team of doctors that traveled to Banda Aceh, Indonesia on Sunday to participate in an international effort to stem the threat of a malaria epidemic in the tsunami-stricken region.

Dr. Katherine McNally, who has worked in Petaluma for the past year and a half, together with two other Kaiser infectious disease specialists, will spend the next month trying to head off the threat of mosquito-borne diseases that could kill thousands more people around the disaster zone.

"I had a burning desire to go after hearing about all the horrors happening," said McNally last Friday, two days before her departure for Indonesia, a destination the doctor says she chose because of the malarial threat and because it was hardest hit.

Once on the ground, McNally and traveling companions Dr. David Witt and Dr. Darvin Smith will be meeting up with the Mentor Initiative, a British-based public health group that combats malaria epidemics.

Though this will be her first time working in a disaster zone, McNally has a deep personal and professional connection to Southeast Asia. Before starting medical school, she spent two and a half years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand working on a malaria control project.

And, according to health experts, McNally's expertise in malaria prevention is deeply needed.

Last Thursday, Mentor Initiative Director Richard Allan warned that a malaria outbreak could claim an additional 100,000 lives around the Indian Ocean if authorities don't act quickly.

"The combination of the tsunami and the rains are creating the largest single set of (mosquito) breeding sites that Indonesia has ever seen in its history," Allan told the Associated Press.

The aid group director explained that the Dec. 26 tsunami left pools of salt water that have been diluted by recent rains, creating a brackish water that attracts mosquitoes.

An insecticide spraying operation in houses throughout Banda Aceh will be one of the core actions to reduce mosquito-borne diseases, said Allan.

Though thus far the World Health Organization has only documented seven cases of malaria in Aceh province, protecting herself from illness and disease will be among McNally's priorities during her month in Indonesia.

The doctor was also concerned that her work might be restricted because of security concerns, hindering her from reaching those most in need of help.

"I'm most concerned about safety," she said. "There's a lot of questions that won't be answered till we get there."

(Contact Emily Brady at ebrady@arguscourier.com)

When this story was posted in January 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Ask Not As our country prepares for the inauguration of a President, we remember one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century and how his words inspired us. "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

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January 15, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Bellamy finishing term - Veneman to head Unicef 15 Jan 230 RPCVs volunteer for Crisis Corps 14 Jan Peace Corps Fund needs silent auction items 12 Jan Matt Gould in one-man Peace Corps show in Hollywood 12 Jan Taylor Hackford's "Ray" Nominated for Golden Globe 12 Jan Ambassador Johnson shares memories of Thailand 11 Jan Senator Dodd suggests PC return to Venezuela 11 Jan Ambassador Hull wants PC to return to Sierra Leone 11 Jan Poiriers unhappy with PC investigation of missing son 10 Jan Emile Hons reflects on the Deborah Gardner murder case 10 Jan Judge Paul A. Bastine criticized for stalling Divorce 6 Jan Volunteer Patricia D. Scatoloni dies in Macedonia 4 Jan more top stories...

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Coleman: Peace Corps mission and expansion Senator Norm Coleman, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that oversees the Peace Corps, says in an op-ed, A chance to show the world America at its best: "Even as that worthy agency mobilizes a "Crisis Corps" of former Peace Corps volunteers to assist with tsunami relief, I believe an opportunity exists to rededicate ourselves to the mission of the Peace Corps and its expansion to touch more and more lives."

RPCVs active in new session of Congress In the new session of Congress that begins this week, RPCV Congressman Tom Petri has a proposal to bolster Social Security, Sam Farr supported the objection to the Electoral College count, James Walsh has asked for a waiver to continue heading a powerful Appropriations subcommittee, Chris Shays will no longer be vice chairman of the Budget Committee, and Mike Honda spoke on the floor honoring late Congressman Robert Matsui.

Latest: RPCVs and Peace Corps provide aid Peace Corps made an appeal last week to all Thailand RPCV's to consider serving again through the Crisis Corps and more than 30 RPCVs have responded so far. RPCVs: Read what an RPCV-led NGO is doing about the crisis an how one RPCV is headed for Sri Lanka to help a nation he grew to love. Question: Is Crisis Corps going to send RPCVs to India, Indonesia and nine other countries that need help?

The World's Broken Promise to our Children Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005.

Changing of the Guard With Lloyd Pierson's departure, Marie Wheat has been named acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations responsible for the day-to-day management of the Peace Corps. Although Wheat is not an RPCV and has limited overseas experience, in her two years at the agency she has come to be respected as someone with good political skills who listens and delegates authority and we wish her the best in her new position.

Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

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