Comic Relief

There is not much of that around just now what with the unimaginable earthquake and tsunami in Japan and its consequences, the vicious assaults by the Libyan government on its rebellious cities and the air and missile attacks from western countries. And all that hard on the heels of the storms and floods in Queensland and Sri Lanka, and earthquakes in Haiti and New Zealand.

But Friday was red nose day, the annual Comic Relief fund raising event with the slogan "do something funny for money" which has a big focus on poverty and health issues in Africa. Nearly 60,000 red noses have been sold since Comic Relief began in 1985. It is an event which usually passes me by but I just happened to spend an hour or so at the home of my good friend JT where the TV was tuned to the BBC Comic Relief programme.

There is something very uncomfortable about watching Miranda Hart one minute and desperately sick children in Kenya the next. The videos of David Tennant among children suffering from malaria were especially moving.

Comic Relief began in Sudan so my mind naturally went to my friend the Biscuit Addict in Juba where this shot was taken. She may not read this blog but she is everything Comic Relief is about. Malaria is described as "hyper-endemic" there and at the end of last year there was the worst outbreak of kala-azar for 8 years. This parasitic disease caused by the sand fly is 100% fatal unless treated.There are only 10 midwives in the whole of this emerging nation.

So my friend wherever you are right now red noses are all about you.