Thursday 15th August 2013

My Father has asked me to include a picture of my accommodation, so there it is. Mine is the little breeze block hut , with the tin roof. When it rains (which frankly, for rainy season, it doesn't very often), it's lovely. I do worry a bit about the lightning though.... it's a lot better than I thought, with air-con, my own hot shower and loo, a double bed, and now the internet connection actually works it is actually very comfortable. The tents are nice too, having all the same mod cons as me, just without the shower and toilet - so I'm quite lucky really.

 It is not hierarchy that got me the hut over the tent, just sheer luck that this was the one empty when I arrived. That's one of the nice things about our little compound - we are a close team, with no silliness going on. That in itself is a godsend, as frankly if we didn't get on it would be very difficult indeed. I think it's become quite clear to those of you that have been following me, that cabin fever is setting in, and has led to an emotional week here in the "Jubble" (our name for the "Juba Bubble" that we all live in.) What I had not prepared for was the highs and lows of living in such a small space.Some days we laugh at everything, and some days we wonder how our friends and co-workers will survive another day without going completely mad.

 My boss is off on a well deserved break tomorrow, and we have almost had to surround him with bubble wrap to stop any more disasters happening to him before he leaves..not only did he wake up to find a friendly rat peering at him from his cupboard, but the final insult came when he brushed his teeth with mosquito repellent......


We had a busy week last week though, and medically evacuated two people to Nairobi (which was a bit challenging when the airport was on fire...). It all went smoothly, and I have the utmost respect for AMREF, the Flying Doctors, for their professionalism and expertise. It's a tough call to make, to realise that actually we cannot manage what is in front of us, and we need to get them to a proper hospital.  As a Sister I have great respect for would say - "I gave them the " eyeball" test" - one look and it's off to Nairobi for you.
The system works well, although is a little fraught when you are pushed for time. The AMREF plane has to leave Nairobi by 1430 at the latest, or there will not be enough turnaround time in Juba, as the airport here closes at 1800. So you have to contact their insurance companies, convince their Doctors that there really is no medical facility here that we can transfer them to (No, the local Hospital has no electricity, or oxygen, or beds, or staff), they have to send  a guarantee of payment to AMREF, who then have to get ground clearance and permits - all by 1430. If none of this happens in time, the very sick patient is with us until the next day, with our very limited facilities. I never cease to be amazed that some people do not have insurance to cover evacuation here - there is no way out otherwise, as an evacuation costs $20,000, just for the plane.

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It is a very different story for those without money, or insurance. They have to be taken on a commercial flight,(if they can make it through security), propped up by relatives, and hope for the best. It's a sobering thought.

On a lighter note, I now have 2 and a half weeks before I go on leave, first to Dubai, to catch up with a friend working there( and hopefully a little dive in Oman) then home to see family and friends (with a brief sojourn on the beach in Spain).Andrew is planning on filming me next week to see how coherent I remain, and I am dreaming of a haircut, a bath with bubbles, and proper belly laughs and story telling.

Bring on the cabin fever - I can handle it !!!!