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I worked at one of the call centres on Comic Relief night, one lady was so apologetic that she could only afford a fiver. I told her not to worry that it would pay for a mosquito net for someone and she burst into tears. Reading this now has brought a lump to my throat, fivers from generous people like her will hopefully help start the process of emptying those wards.

Thanks for sharing this with us Aled, I'll have me hankies ready in the car for 8:15 tomorrow.

Dear Aled, your blog has touched the heart of a right hard faced cow. It must have been incredibly hard to see the things you have seen today, but the message you are sending back here is so important. I remember living the Killi climb through my radio in February, being late for work to listen and now doing the same while you guys are in Uganda. Keep up the good work guys. We love you for it. xxxx

Hi Aled

What you guys have achieved this week can't be underestimated. You have brought a far greater understanding of the reality of a world which is so foreign to most of us here in the West. Your blog has been informative yet very honest; you haven't been afraid to portray the disturbing sights or horrible conditions you have encountered but at the same time you have included the good parts and reflected the sense of pride and the strength the people of Uganda have.

It is easy to think of places like Uganda as being wastelands or similar - I think, like you, I was a bit ignorant of what it was really like before I started reading your blog, listening to the interviews and watching the videos this week. You have shown that this is not the case; that there are people, families and communities which could thrive with that bit of help - I really hope the nets will go a long way to providing this.

I think it was Fearne who pointed out that the children suffering from malaria were missing out on their education, which just goes to show what the benefit of a drop in disease rates would be. Also Kimberley pointed out the immense pressure put on parents who have to choose which child to protect if they didn't previously have enough nets - it's things like this that I had never considered before.

The swine 'flu comparison was a very good one to make - I thought the panic here was completely out of proportion to the actual danger anyway, so to see how it compare statistically will hopefully make people think about how serious the malaria problem truly is.

Before you went to Uganda you were making jokes about not being able to Tweet (I'm glad you all were able to by the way!) and missing the material things, but I think you are too hard on yourself!! Your blog shows you to be thoughtful and brave - it takes courage to say that you would rather not confront the reality of a children's ward; I would have felt exactly the same as you. It also feels like the videos, blogs, tweets and interviews have been really heartfelt; like Kimberley feeling bad for crying after visiting the hospital.

I'm looking forward to seeing the documentary on the 27th. I also think that by going back and showing how the donations have helped, you have all raised so much awareness - hopefully this will be reflected in Sport Relief donations next year and future Comic Relief appeals. I know I, for one, won't forget seeing the money put to good use. A big well done to you all on what can't have been an easy task. I have a lot of respect for you all.

Morning To All Uganda team

this is amazing thing to see well done all.Its great to see were the money goes brill well done many thanks

Mark

Hi Aled and Chris,
What you and the team are doing in Uganda is amazing and I hope you are really proud of yourselves.
I have just got back from Africa and there is some much happening there that will break your heart every minute of every day. It makes you realise how much we have here and how much we take for granted in the west.
You are doing a great job in reporting this back and keep up the good work!

It is so easy to get wrapped up in our own problems and sometimes it takes a wake up call like this to make us realise how lucky we are. What is an inconceivable situation to us, is every day life for these people, and they cope because it has become their way of life. I think the team and the work they are doing together with all the other agencies is amazing and long may it continue.

Ive really enjoyed following the blog, and the updates on the radio, so thanks for sharing with us. The Kilimanjaro climb last year was great, so much so that I actually booked a trip there myself and climbed in October! (I actually have a book published on Lulu.com called 'A letter to Kimberley' which kinda pays homage to the fact I was inspired by the Comic Relief crew!)

Because of this, I am keen to hear about how things are going in Uganda, but I also feel I should point out that the handing out of nets isnt enough ... it doesnt end there people, so please everyone reading, dont sit back and think its a case of 'job done!' It isnt, and based on my experience of spending almost 6 months with a CBO in Kenya, those at the greatest risk of malarial infection, are those the least likely to use nets correctly, and continually. This could be from a combination of education, but more likely ... due to living conditions that are not conducive to using nets correctly. Imagine living in a single room, mud walled building with a straw roof that is 12 feet above your head. This one room is the one used for cooking, living, and may house a family of 6. Just giving out a net is a start, but we cant think the job is done when the net is in their hand. ( I think this is why they are blue, so they can be monitored better )

We all have a duty to remember the work being done now, and support its continued efforts, as well as trying in our little way to raise attention, and press the drug manufacturers to make the cost of drugs affordable to the local populations.

This is great work ... but its only one step of a long journey. Its our collective responsibility to do what we can, however small, to continue this work

Just wanted to add my praise to the heaps you've had already. It really is a wonderful thing you guys are doing.

The statistic that 320 people A DAY die from malaria just in Uganda is shocking. But, here's my concern. In an ideal world, your work might reduce that number to 0 (in an ideal world, of course). Let's hope that it does. But if that were the case, there would be an extra 320 people a day living in Uganda. That's nearly 117,000 extra people a year, just in Uganda. Uganda's birth rate is the 3rd highest in the world ( and 3 times the UK's birth rate - and that will be exponentially larger if the malaria nets do their job. If they are struggling to get enough food and water now, they certainly will then.

So my point isn't to denigrate this amazing job you're doing. It really is brilliant and I have donated repeatedly. I would just like to be certain that someone else is hard at work making sure that the other side of the coin is being addressed too. Can anyone (I'm genuinely interested) point me in the direction of info on that work?

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