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01/05/2004: "Kandahar Chronicles #49 - 29/12/2003"

Excellent to be back in Kandahar but shit, it’s cold. The warm greetings from all the guys as I pulled into the compound was fun but an icy, grey sky soon forced me indoors. Back to the grind, eight weeks left in my contract. The guys did a great job keeping the programs going while we were away but there is lots of work to do to get on top of things again. I came down with our new Head of Mission, Nelke, the MedCo, Gloria, the new Project Coordinator, Jan Peter, and my friend Hamil. A good lunch and then we jumped right in to meetings and for me, a briefing on decisions that have been made while I’ve been sunning myself. Basically, except for a few minor changes, things will continue pretty much as before. The security is still a major factor in influencing our operations but it looks like we are going to run the Obstetrics and Gynaecology ward at the Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar so we will have lots to do. It’s unfortunate because it’s interesting to be involved in the IDP camp at Zhare Dasht and we do a lot of good work there, but for now the referral process is running effectively and we will do a reassessment on the viability of returning in a months time.

On top of my regular workload, I’ll be spending quite a lot of time with Jan Peter showing him the layout of the city, the logistical concerns at the hospital and introducing him to all the key people at the UN and the NGOs. He has signed up for a full nine month contract after having a break from the eighteen months he ran a project in the Congo. The words frying pan and fire spring to mind but he seems very capable and the project will benefit from consistency at the helm. This is no slight from the excellent work done by the previous PCs, but the amount of effort spent preparing handover reports and establishing oneself into the context is considerable. A further boost will come in late January when an experienced midwife will arrive to work at the ops and gynney ward, and even a gynaecologist is projected to arrive soon after that. In situations such as the one here in Kandahar, it’s very necessary to mould the needs of the project with the proper personnel. The need for medical aid is everywhere here, so no matter what the security context we hope that we will be able to adapt to meet it. Kandahar continues to be nuts but it’s easy to fall in love with it.