Sylvia's Journal

We are now connected to the internet at home; one cable for now, a WAN arrangement that seems to work, although not as fast as the LAN arrangement in Guesthouse zero. Our little diesel stoves are keeping the house warm and toasty and either we are getting accustomed to the fumes or they are burning efficiently now.

While Axel was literally tending the diesel fires at home I started the week with our usual staff meetings, one with my own team and one with all the program managers. This included one in which we strategized about how we can assist the ministry of health now that Influenza A(H1N1) is here to stay for awhile. I was pleased to see how everyone is realizing that our project’s assistance is more in the realm of management and leadership than advice on technical matters. We also recognized that the government’s educational efforts about hygiene and protecting oneself appear to pay off: shaking hands is getting out of fashion, washing them is happening more and more; a good habit no matter what.

After a meeting at the ministry with the director general for health services, to talk about how we can best assist him, Ali and I drove across the river to a conglomeration of the ugliest Russian architecture you can imagine to meet with the Blood Bank team. We think we have found a unit of the ministry that shows leadership in action, from the director down to the cleaners. In the midst of all the architectural ugliness, all 5 stories of the Blood Bank’s working spaces were spic and span; a first impression of an institution that is run well and with great care.

While drinking endless cups of tea and munching on three kinds of mini Toblerone bars I watched before and after pictures on the chief’s computer that spoke for themselves. The staff that is participating in the leadership program had assembled in the training room, another immaculate albeit sparse meeting space. We have been asked to upgrade it and we probably will. Most of the people seated around the table were women, including the deputy chief. The boss is proud about his gender balance track record, and he should be, having so many professional women on staff and, more importantly, in positions of authority.

While waiting for our driver to pick us up Ali showed me around the grey and dilapidated concrete structures that housed various polyclinics: for eyes, for family planning, for drug counseling, for voluntary HIV/AIDS counseling, etc. The place was deserted; the day had ended, making it look even more ghostly and depressing. When we discovered that our car was stuck in traffic we ventured out into the street outside the polyclinic compound and walked among the vendors who were selling everything that is cheap. I love these rare ventures out into Afghan life as it gives me a chance to practice my Dari and have a taste of Afghanistan. Today this taste included corn roasted in a hot ash and salt mixture.