Sylvia's Journal

Today I saw a 3 year old holding hands with a 4 year old crossing an immensely busy intersection, something like Central Square in Cambridge. I held my breath as I watched them duck traffic and run then this way then that. They made it across, as they probably do most of the time but I am sure some don’t. Knowing the state of the hospitals, I hate to think the drama that would follow such a mishap. If we were to witness something like that in the US the parents would be put in jail probably for negligence. Unfortunately, such a sight is not uncommon. It breaks my heart each time.

I have shiny new pipes connecting my old stove to the hole in the wall and the fumes have now become manageable. This will be it for the winter. Today was a dreary day, wet and with snow at higher altitudes. It will come down here soon as well, people predict. It will be nice at first as it will cover all the ugliness on the streets.

It took us over an hour to make it to the ministry to participate in the planning meeting for the important top level health retreat in February. Many donor reps were added to the group, which included now several expat women. It’s nice for a change to be in a meeting where I am not the only woman. The meeting was led by an Afghan woman and one other participated. It gives a sense of progress, although there is much work to do before women will have real power.

Rumors are still flying around about the new cabinet, and thus new minister of health. But the current one has a good track record and even returned from an international vaccination meeting in Hanoi with four awards for Afghanistan (out of five) – an impressive record about cold chain maintenance and vaccination progress. A photo op was organized this afternoon where awards are passed on to those who made it all possible, both donor and UN agencies and ministry staff. I am sure such things lift spirits amidst all the accusations of corruption.