OUR WORK > cbm co-worker stories from West Africa > Political Instability and Changes
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Political Instability and Changes
Political Instability and ChangesPhoto Above: the all too typical shot – a blind man being led by child, both confined to a life of begging. As if this part of the world isn’t hard enough – to be disabled is a double blow. This is why we continue to do what we do.
In Africa, there are many reasons why planned travel is cancelled at short notice. The past two months have seen several of our project support and assessment visits postponed by political instability.
We were due to visit some projects in Guinea Bissau in a couple of days. But the current unrest (which was a surprise to everyone) including the assassination of the President means that travel to this country is forbidden. We were also to check out a project in Guinea but the security issues there persist, making travelling difficult to say the least.
In the north of Ghana we have two good projects – one eye project and the other an orthopaedic project (one of only a few in Ghana, a country with a population of 26 million!). There is chronic tribal unrest and a flare up last year, including shootings in the street, that drove our Argentinean orthopaedic surgeon away.
It has not been possible to secure a permanent replacement but a short-term team of surgeons and anesthetists form Germany were due to go soon to help the most desperate cases. The tribal conflict has flared up again and now this visit is in jeopardy.
The Eye unit has temporarily relocated to a safe town to continue their work. cbm is helping with the refurbishment of a building to work in; the projects are doing such valuable work at these times. cbm workers hope and pray for personal safety and for the security of the resources of the project so work can, hopefully, resume when all settles down. We keep in daily contact with them, mindful that if the situation deteriorates they may need to be evacuated promptly.
Always, the most needy and disadvantaged in these situations are penalized by the unrest with vital impactful services suspended and all too often destroyed. It is difficult at times to understand why these things continue to happen, and testing of one’s faith.
Tania and I have some significant changes coming up over the next few months. Our advisory work here, which frequently involves financial and clinical audit activities, has prompted Tania to decide to return Down Under to study for her accountancy qualifications. These will make her work here even more valuable.
Accordingly, we will move to a different role with cbm in West Africa as of the middle of the year. The eye hospital we have been involved with here in Lome has been handed off as a functioning unit. cbm has asked that we continue our advisory work, together with project evaluation and capacity building visits in the region.
We have always appreciated everyone’s support of the work we do. We feel blessed knowing that your prayers and thoughts were with us in often difficult circumstances. These have been a tremendous source of strength.
Thank you.
Adieu & God Bless,
Neil and Tania
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