Bahai Beach 6 - sand sand and heat - August 11, 2006

Bahai Beach 6

August 11, 2006

On Wednesday we were struck by a true tragedy. Behind the compound lies our septic tank. For reasons unknown to all the lid had been taken off the septic tank. At 1600 a group of children came to our gate crying that something had happened in the back of the compound. When the guard arrived a 5 year old girl was found inside the septic tank. She had fallen in and had drowned. The emotions running through the hearts and minds of the national staff ranged from disbelief, anger, sadness, shame, fear, sorrow. How could we have neglected such an important and basic practice? The police came to do an investigation where it was found that the incident was a tragic case but there had been no intent on our side. We pray for the family and the girl that has lost her life. All I can hope for is that we at our side at times reflect more on the procedures we have in our organization. It is near impossible to avoid accidents, but clearly we do not look good on this issue. As a consequence UNHCR needs to give all the NGOs in the area clearance to go to work for the rest of the week. Perhaps the host community does not take well to the loss of life of one of their children and all men in this community carry knives and possess guns in their houses. You may have read in the newspapers that across the border in Darfur but also in Sri Lanka humanitarian aid workers are becoming more and more a target to violence. Several projects across the border have been abandoned. Also the peace agreement between the Government of Sudan and Mini Minawi ( biggest Sudanese Liberation Armee ) is unraveling rapidly. Mini Minawi’s supporters form the majority of the people living in Oure Cassoni refugee camp. There is infighting in the SLA as well and several split ups are against the signing of the peace agreement. On top of all this the Chadian president Deby who hails from this region has been installed for a third term as president after changing the constitution to satisfy his needs. Many of his detractors come from his own family/clan the Zagawa. Again the population in our camp is also Zagawa but those that live across the border in Sudan.
On a lighter note I am currently the owner of 2 chickens. Two more are being brought today or Saturday. Friday it is Independence day in Chad so no work. I feed them with grains and rice and they are awaiting the completion of the villa I am building for them. As I tap Kutidai (Zagawa for hen) and Jedada Entai(Arab for hen) are pecking way at the grain I have purchased for them. Kokiak (Goran for hen) and the Sara term for hen are to follow suite soon. And somehow five sparrows find the neon lighting I have very interesting and sit on top of it every night. Mr mouse (zag zag) or desert rat also seems to like to hang out near my veranda.
With the holiday of our field coordinator the health coordinator will be acting field coordinator for three weeks and I shall be acting health coordinator for the same period. For the camp we have a monthly activity plan drawn up for all the different departments. Some of the things that we are doing this week include; paying the incentives to our refugee staff, filling holes (avoid mosquito breeding grounds), distribute bed nets to all pregnant women (about 300) and orphans (about 2000), have health campaigns about prevention of diarrhoeal disease, monthly stock inventory of the pharmacy, international drug order, prepare construction of a water basin in our health post and center, work on the quality of the drinking water (being trucked in form the dam), have an active malnutrition drive where the community health workers look for malnourished children, jobinterviews with laboratory technician and doctor, monthly report. One of the good things that did happen to us is the arrival of Charles a Congolese member of the Emergency Desk who will help us with drawing up of Memoranda of Understanding on different topics; agreement with Bahai Hospital as we have new funding there for a 6 month transitional period in which we try to hand over (again) the hospital to the authorities, reduction of refugee incentive staff members. I think I mentioned in the health department alone we had 108 when I came here, possibly around 70 would be a more effective figure. Also we are improving the pharmacy and storage of drugs in the camp and I can go on for a long time more.
Whenever Yoda Pancho and Dr ~Chewbaca get frustrated we get out our big football (look at http://www.flickr.com/) and kick the ball or end up discussing the lesser and greater Philosophers of the last 3000 years. I am blessed with such a neighbor. He keeps me sane in times like these. No visits to the market this week.
Does anybody have a good suggestion for a weblog site. I am considering opening one.

Take care,
Namaskar,

Ashis

On Thursday all of a sudden 40 trucks with military rolled into the wadi. One kilometer from our base. Straight away we rushed to the compound. UNHCR found out it was Chadian Government troups. In the same night a soldier and a civilian got into a brawl over a women and the soldier shot the civilian in the abdomen. This morning we spent arranging a flight for the man as well as for a second case a young girl who had fallen in a hole. It is hot and the conflict in Darfur is getting more and more hot

Bahai Beach 5, 05-08-2006

Bahai Beach 5
05-08-2006

Mission chicken is about to succeed. I have decided to start up a chicken farm. After searching the local markets and considering the prices of an egg (about one $) calculations showed that it would be more fun to keep some hens. Sunday I am building a little house for them and Monday they shall move in. Names are being assessed and high on the list are the following: Jedada (Arabic for chicken) and the Sara, Goran and Zagawa names for a hen. Some people tell me I need a rooster as well otherwise there shall be no eggs. Well we shall see. In case it is required I shall distribute earplugs to the other expats before they strangle my rooster. The market is my place to chill out. And I have found jawafa, a sweet local fruit, which is then made into a fruit shake. Also the sheesha (waterpipe) is still one of my favourites. Slowly slowly my Arabic skills are improving and even some Zagawa words are picked up left and right. Zagawa is the tribe that has been chased out of Sudan by the Government of Sudan and the Janjaweed. On the othe side of the border things are heating up. There are more and more attacks on the local populations and humanitarian aid workers. Here in Chad there are always rumours of what may or may not happen. To illustrate the unpredictability of the Darfur conflict: Mini Minawi (Zagawa Sudanese Liberation Army) is now the third vice president of Sudan and is supported by George Bush et al as well. He was in Washington last week and until 1 month ago he was fighting GoS. Now the other rebel groups have turned on him. Our refugee community are mainly Mini Minawi followers. The camp I have visited 5 out of 6 days this week. And as I said last week it gives me energy to struggle through administrative battles as health incentive staff for 96 people and monthly reports (due Monday) about 16 pages. Luckily Sylvie the new health coordinator has arrived and she is great. Finally I have time to plan ahead instead of always be in the troubleshooting mode. Also our reproductive health doctor Joaquim (Burundian) has returned. But work has a natural tendency to be heaped upon our shoulders. UNHCR expects us (Sylvie, Joaquim or me) to chair the taskforce on HIV/AIDS for the region and camp. A brilliant challenge yet it has to fit in with all other ongoing business as cholera preparedness, clinical care, transfers to the hospital in Bahai, or by airplane to Abeche and N Djamena, clinical supervision, public health programs, teaching sessions, meetings, reporting, security awareness and all. In short a great way to learn how to multitask, prioritize, delegate and hand over. Fresh blood is coming into the program and it gives it a real boost. Also there is more of a work hard play hard atmosphere in the camp. Dr J likes his beers, dancing and music. And Sylvie is taking over the responsibilities I was covering as Acting Health Coordinator. Some good and some sad stories to tell as well. The sad story is a refugee arriving in Bahai hospital (25 kilometer from the camp) on Wednesday. Bravo Golf Julliet 39, my call sign went off and I was requested to come to the hospital immediately. A lady in labor had obstructed labor because her placenta was in the way of the delivery channel. While I was busy to arrange an evacuation by airplane she vomited once and collapsed. She died. If only she would have come two hours earlier she and her baby would have survived or if we had a surgeon (we = actually the Chadian Ministry of Health Bahai Hospital) on call. The good doctor however is now not on his post for 37 days. What ifs do not help. All I can wish for is that the job interviews we have next week will bring as a dedicated surgeon with a caring heart. It is well to be understood that living on the fringes of a desert are not first choice for many medical people. I am sure we will find one. Several applications have been sent as well for a laboratory technician. Both will increase the functionability of the hospital as well as save lives. The beautiful story was a 5 year old boy who drank pesticide. He was brought in respiratory failure and with brusque intervention we managed to pull him back. He left the clinic two days ago smiling and that just makes my week. And to top it all I had the good fortune to do a normal delivery a healthy baby girl in the new maternity clinic today. O yes it is raining I shall send some photos so you can see how urgent it was. The lake is empty and we truck water from the dam now (10 kilometers from the camp).

Let me stop here. I am still happy here and Yoda Pancho, my loggie mate is snoring to loud so I will have to take some of his ear plugs. He gave me a nick name as well: Dr Chewbaca. Me a Don Quixote to him or vice versa is unknown. Enigmatic paradox.

Take care,

Love and peace,

Ashis