Fraser's blog

Maybe we are in different game show. We get these great kits and have to put them together to achieve goals. Someone somewhere is probably keeping score. For example, we can order a kit to cut people up - KMEDMSUR11- (module, surgical, 300 op. SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS), we can order a kit for lighting KPROMLIG13- (MODULE LIGHTING, 1300 W. 4 spotlights 300 W + 12 tubes fluo) and a kit to power that kit KPROKGEN33D (KIT, GENERATOR, DIESEL, 3.3 KVA, 2700 W, 220V). These kits come with everything you need - for example the generator comes with a jerry can, extension leads, oil filters, spanners and even a plastic funnel. Some kits look quite fun, for example KTRAKZOD02- (KIT, ZODIAC, MARK 2 Grand Raid, 6/7 persons), although here I'd have to order KWATKTAN60- (KIT, WATER TANK, 60 m3, storage/sedimentation, conn.) just to float it! We can even order a zoo in kit form - KZOOLIVE36D- (KIT, MENAGERIE & CAGES, BASIC, 36 ANIMALS). It even includes an pangolin. (Only joking, the latter is a Local Purchase - and a bargain at 1500CFA)

In the UK there is an odd fashion amongst the huntin' shootin' fishing folk, where they put silly silver sculptures of animals on the bonnets of their jags and range rovers - a dog or a horse perhaps. Something to maim the pedestrians that get in their way as they drive along the King's Road. In C?d'Ivoire they go one step further:

I don't get all that much "cultural" news from the UK, but I understand from Amy that Big Brother has been happening again. We have often remarked that it feels like we are in a Big Brother set of our own out here: We started as ten and are down to six now; The cameras in our compound are very well hidden, but is know they must be there; Big Brother keeps in touch with us by HF radio and we all get interesting and varies tasks to do; We don't have a swimming pool or chickens, but we do have a 60-bed hospital, six Landcruisers and almost 180 staff. Current project include hiring a new admin assistant, sacking a cleaner, opening a surgical program, ordering four months supply of drugs for the end of October onwards, keeping mobile clinics operating despite rebel movements and a rapidly approaching rainy season. I'm sure it makes good television, but of course we only get media that has been carefully filtered by the producers, so we have no idea what the tabloids are saying about each of us!

On Sunday I finally got around to organising a bit of off-road training for the expats. The MSF-H policy in CI is that only the drivers drive, and seeing how other NGO's vehicles are treated by expats I'm glad that is the case. But if there were an emergency, it would be a good thing for us expats to at least know the basics, so four of us joined my head driver at 10am and we went through the basics of changing a wheel, using the various jacks, how to check the oil etc, and then drove around the hospital to try going in and out of four wheel drive, low range etc. We then set off on the road to Guinea - currently our worst road. We found some mud and played about in it for a few hours, trying different routes through it, forward and backwards and generally trying (and succeeding) to get stuck. Excellent fun - must do it more often!

This morning over breakfast (the mangos are really good at the moment) we were discussing world events (a few of us always listen to the World Service before we get up) and discussing the usual mix of bombings in Iraq, troop movements in Congo, oil prices, and even the odd thing closer to home, such as Gbagbo and his tiresome supporters or the damaging row between the Dutch government and MSF-H over the ransom payment. And then Grace (our new admin expat) informs us that J-Lo has got married again. That really highlighted how we miss the important news out here! Anything similar that can help to keep things in perspective will be gratefully received...

Saturday before last almost the whole expat team went over from Danan?o Man to socialise with our cousins from Belgium. Man is a large town 1h15 away - the hospital has a surgical unit and a TFC, so get a lot of referrals from us, and communication often suffers due to language, HF interference and (their) poor radio operators. So a social meeting was definitely needed. The party on Saturday night was fun, with good food (they have access to things we can't get locally, such as cheese) and a relaxed atmosphere. Man has many INGO's (ICRC, IRC, ACF etc) whereas we are the only ones in Danan?/p>

On Sunday we all set off and climbed the Dent de Man - the main tourist thing in the area. It's an impressive 400m tall lump of rock only a few km from the centre of the town.

In the humidity and heat the hour and a half walk to the top feels tougher than it is, but the view was worth it. I'm sure my legs should not have felt so tired. I guess they are out of practice.