Africa Vision 10

Africa Vision 10

N’Djamena, November 26, 2007

Moving green bushes

Sad events this weekend in the Eastern parts of Chad. Two sites near the regional capital and hub for NGO’s Abeche came under rebel attack. It is a clear reminder that there are still many rebel groups active in Chad. In this incident a security guard was shot in the leg and two humanitarian aid workers from MSF and Oxfam were beaten by rifle but. I wish all the best for the local population, refugees and the aid workers in these heavily armed and conflict-ridden regions. On top of that as it is the fighting season. Slightly delayed by heavy rainfall the bi-annual has commenced. The rebels try to carve out a part of Chad so once the UN troops arrive they have a strong position to enter negotiations. As a consequence an estimated 1000 soldiers and rebels died and many more got wounded. There is a month left before the UN troops come so we can expect more battles.

For those who wish to read more try the following web link www.reliefweb.int
It is just Saturday that I had a dinner with staff members of the UN. They are in town to set up shop in Abeche and N’Djamena. The goal is to prepare the arrival of several thousand European peacekeepers in the Eastern part of Chad. The ones I was writing about in my previous blog. Finally they will start coming in December. It is natural for things to heat up just before the arrival of these troops. Also a negotiated peace deal between the government and 4 leading rebel groups expired after one month. Unrest in the East sometimes leads to phone lines to be cut off. I was supposed to be eating with friends now but I cannot reach them to find out where exactly their house is.

Today’s good news is the meeting with doctor Gagde. He is the in charge of the public health department at the medical faculty. He has received his training in public health in Toulouse, France. As we discussed it became clear that the academic year is coming to an end and that the students need special teaching sessions.

A perfect opportunity for me to step and to prepare some sessions on parasites. My beloved parasite! Parasites and their impact on human health, the treatment modalities, how to address the problems, constraints in the terrain. Fresh medical minds to be challenged by the creative public health concept. I was informed that students like to note down all information coming from a teachers lips. Well either they need a speedy Gonzales pen or they will have to get used to not capturing every word and following the discourse. It is fun to make power point presentations. What is less fun that I need to find out a way to make my mediocre written French look at least passable. Around December 10th my first class should take place. The good thing is public health is taught at year 2-7 so there is ample opportunity to corrupt the minds.

For those of you who read the blog through the blogspot website and get to see the picture there are two news flashes.

First with the help of my friend Gerry now the blogs are available in French. Thanks a gazillion Gerry for the hard work of translating my gibberish. Once the connection/ phone lines will improve I shall be able to post them.

Second the photo with the moving bushes was taken while I was stirred and shaken. All of a sudden it felt as if I was in a Lord of the Rings film. Moving bushes and trees. I asked Leon what was going on. Eight green leaved figures on the road. As an initiation rite boys need to live in the forest and eat what they catch and collect only. At night they may come to the village to dance and impress the girls but they return to the woods to sleep. At the end of one month, if everything has gone well they have become real men. Fascinating animistic traditions clearly still play a big role in day-to-day life.

Groeten,

Ashis