OUR WORK > cbm co-worker stories from West Africa > Moving Ahead
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Moving AheadWe write this knowing that winter has really hit Down under, and hope all are safe, warm and dry.
It is rainy season here also, indeed a longer rainy season than normal, and the two edged sword is that flooding is occurring, precious crops planted for the rain are being destroyed and with rising cost of living – le coût de la vie - we are looking at difficult times in West Africa again later this year.
For our hospital the rain has an unexpected advantage however. We need to use distilled water in our sterilising processes. Distilled water is expensive and difficult to obtain, and now that we are getting busier we are using more and the cost is mounting.
However, we have been told by other projects that a good substitute is rain water, and better still its free! So, the crazy yovos (this is the local tribal slang term for a white person) are, together with the staff, running around during the heavy rain with plastic buckets to catch as much water as possible. God helps those who help themselves!
The hospital is becoming busier, and the team is working together much better and yes, there is an esprit d’equipe developing. The nurses in particular are taking pride in their work and their contribution to hospital.
One indirect measure of this has been the appearance of various family members of the staff on the operating lists. The management systems Tania implemented are still functioning and hopefully now are just second nature. However, our boss here continues to remind us that administration is a refined art form in Africa and we must not be disappointed when there is some individual creativity.
August is 2009 budget time for all at the cbm office in Lome. We have a reduced amount to allocate and need to carefully scruntise every project application to determine its true merits. It is a case of sorting the wheat from the chaff.
Having now evaluated almost all the projects under our care, we are better informed and more able (par la grace de Dieu) to allocate what is the most essential for the amazing work being done in West Africa.
Adieu,
Neil and Tania
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