New update....

So, the last update was a little short...so as i am locked in my hotel for the weekend, I figured I would take the time to write (more on that in a minute). I am currently in Brazzaville, Congo for a 2-3 week briefing/orientation for my new job with WHO-Africa. Arrived here a couple of days ago, and basically got right to work. It seems the project I am taking on is now the priority for WHO (as was recently announced by the Director general Margaret Chan a couple of weeks ago)...so basically it looks like my mandate as well as the other 300 people on my team is to interrupt (new technical lingo I learned this week), which means eradicate, polio in western Africa, primarily Nigeria by 2009...so yes, next year! Sounds big, and it is, and basically no one really seems to think it is actually possible...but being a Taurus, I am up for the challenge! While not a major problem anywhere else in the world, it is a major problem in Nigeria, especially northern Nigeria...where there is a predominant Muslim population, who felt the `white`people (namely missionaries who went up there to work and help out) gave them the virus, and so they stopped accepting UN aid to combat it about a decade or so ago (pretty similar to when condoms were introduced to southern african countries, and HIV/AIDS education was offered, but it wasnt properly done, and so people in southern african coutries thought that condoms caused HIV/AIDS)...so I think it will be interesting, to say the least. I will be traveling a lot, especially in Nigeria to these villages, but also to other countries like Chad and Niger where WHO has had success in interupting the spreqd of polio (it is an oral/fecal transmission).

So, as mentioned above, we (expatriots in Congo) are in a lockdown at our hotel...there are municipal elections happening here in the city this weekend, and there is a lot of protesting and mini riots happening in and around the city, so we have basically been asked to stay put for the weekend...definitely not much to do, but at least the hotel has a pool (not that i would actually use it as it is an odd green algea colour), cold beer and television (with actual electricity this time) . From my last trip here (summer 2007) things have actually somewhat improved...elevators work, there are lights in my room, and i have a shower head instead of a bucket, and there are actually animals like dogs and chickens in the city...i have even seen a couple of bicycles, so all signs that the city is slowly improving, and that the economy is getting better here...the one thing that has gotten worse are the roads...they have been completely destroyed by the civil war of the 90s, and then every yeqr during rainy season they get worse...so the 10km drive to work takes about an hour in a 4x4 truck! I will definitely post some photos as soon as i can, but in the meantime check back weekly or so, as I will try to keep updating you all on my whereabouts and ongoings...feel free to drop me a line anytime!

I may be off to a conference in Kuala Lumpar in the next 10days or so, but that is still to be decided...

If you have any questions on my work or africa, feel free to ask, and i will try to answer.
ange