Yep, it’s true. I’ve left VSO.

For an exciting new job! I’m now the local Manager of a small British NGO called Health Improvement Project Zanzibar, which is a pretty special organisation. We’ve leased the two district hospitals of Zanzibar’s main island from the Ministry of Health over a ten year period after which they will be handed back to the government. Hospital 1 is in year 6 and making great progress, hospital 2 is in year 2 and has a long way to go.

The great thing compared to other aid and development organisations is we take a whole-systems approach, which includes  creating new or renovating existing buildings, sourcing equipment, improving and more often than not developing new managerial, administrative and financial processes and structures, training staff etc. And we are based on the ground so are much more aware of what the real situation is and what is actually needed. I’m responsible for the 2 local Hospital Managers who we have employed  (nope, Zanzibar doesn’t do hospital managers. Can it not all be done by the one and only doctor working in the hospital? Surely that is not expecting too much…), and currently 4 volunteer doctors from the UK and Ireland. Since these two hospitals cover a catchment area of over 300,000 people, and since the second hospital in the North of the island had been without hospital management for over 25 years, you can imagine that it is a matter of all hands on deck. So life these days is incredibly busy but very versatile, and I am learning loads!

Still living with John in our little house but our living room has become my office and I drive up to the hospital in the North of the island and down to the hospital in the South of the island every week. My tasks range from, for example, developing  an effective training system over raising funds for and organising the purchase of equipment such as oxygen concentrators or operating theatre lights, or enforcing disciplinary procedures, to holding speeches in Kiswahili (read from my piece of paper, so nothing to boast about) for re-openings of renovated hospital wards.

More details to come in future posts, for sure. You will not be spared.

As John has mentioned to you UK-dwellers: Watch wonderful Peter Andre’s reality show in the UK on ITV2 on Monday 7 October (9 p.m.) and part two on Monday 14 October, and you’ll get an impression of the two hospitals I work in. And of lovely Zanzibar.

Enjoy….