My last few days here took pretty much the same hectic course as the previous 7 weeks. On Thursday, we found out that although salaries and back pay for health workers had been released by the Ministry of Finance a week ago, they hadn't been processed by the Central Bank as quickly as hoped. We had made a pretty big thing (too big with hindsight) of the fact that staff would be paid in time for the launch and by Thursday they were on third day of dealing with the post-launch increase in service demand without seeing their salaries. Late in the afternoon we heard that they were becoming suspicious that the government promise was not going to be kept and rumours of strike action were again beginning to circulate. There was an anxious couple of hours as we tried to find out if there was any reason for the hold-up and agreed a message to communicate to the Districts. But by Friday morning, I'm relieved to say, it was confirmed that the money had started to appear in staff accounts.
That was only one of the challenges that came up before I finally left the office on Friday, but that didn't mean that my colleagues were too busy to remember my departure. At one point during the rushing about on Thursday afternoon, I suddenly realised that HR team had all assembled in my office and took time to present me with a great card, and some Sierra Leonian clothes. The picture below was taken just afterward and I am wearing one of the shirts (but no-one going to see me wearing the trousers any time soon).
I'm really glad that we were so busy right up until I left, otherwise I think I would have choked up. I've had some great feedback from the Chief Medical Officer and others, which has been good for the ego, but, as ever, there is the worry about whether I have done anything that will make a sustainable difference. The good news on that front is that a new (Malawian) Technical Assistant will be occupying my desk from next Monday and we have had the last 2 weeks for a decent handover. He is very experienced (and, like me, an alumni of the health service management centre at Keele). He will be working in the Ministry of Health for the next 2 years and I feel I will be leaving the Technical Assistant role in good hands.
But my thoughts and feelings about leaving are not all about work...
Reading back through my blog entries since March, I am only too aware of all the things I haven't written about. This blog was never supposed to be only about my professional work here, but about a personal experience of living and working here at an extraordinary time. One of the most extraordinary things has been about being part of a great international team, all working together towards one goal with Ministry colleagues, but also having fun, supporting each other through the tough bits, drinking plenty of beers and (on one occasion) dancing under the stars until 3am. There are, you will be relieved to know, no pictures of the latter. The picture below is from the launch day celebration.
The second picture was taken at the Water Taxi terminal just before I set off for the airport. My reluctance to get on the boat very nearly resulted in me not making it at all, as they had more than a full boat load. Fortunately for us, they put on a second boat for just 3 off us. Speeding off across the bay, we soon overtook the other boat, and it was a great way to leave. Freetown even put on a great sunset for us.
And that I think, really is the end of the Freetown Blog. Written in jumble of emotions - of hope and best wishes for Sierra Leone as it faces it's next challenges; of that sad-to-leave/glad-to-be-home emotion that is difficult to describe; and of thanks for the fantastic people I have shared these months with - you know who you are!
