This is Africa!

April 25, 2018

TODAY!!!!   IMPORTANT!!!!     EXCITING!!!!     WHAT TO EXPECT????    NERVOUS!!!!!!   

Just starting my blog with some of the words going through my mind when I woke up.  After a quick shower and even quicker breakfast, I went to the registration desk to check the status.  Our “ushers” who were going to help, did not arrive yet.  TIA – this is Africa: it was raining cats and dogs, so no taxi’s or boda boda’s were available, as everyone wants to make use of them.  That made us (Martine, Eveline, Kate, Ronald and myself) getting to work immediately.    People were coming in on time (surprisingly), which was good for registration, but moreover for the visit of the Prime Minister we were expecting to attend. 

By 9am almost all attendees and speakers had arrived.   We needed to wait until 9.30 for the Prime Minister to show up, accompanied by a lot of press persons and of course the police.  When the Prime Minister entered the room, we all stood up and waited for the Ugandan Anthem and South-African Anthem to be played.  This moment gave me goosebumps.  One felt the respect the Ugandan locals have for their Prime Minister.  Also for us, the organizers, it was a tick box to be checked.  We very much hoped the Prime Minister to be present (this shows the importance of the project), but we were not convinced he would show up.  The Prime Minister gave an inspiring speech and even stayed for the presentation of Dr.  Coutinho.  It did not feel as if the Prime Minister was in a hurry. 

The presentation of Dr. Coutinho was very impressive.  He has so much wisdom and knowledge, and he presents it in such a convincing way, that even in the evening, you still remember his words.  I know that the presentation has been recorded, so I do hope we can show it one day at our CPU when we learn and talk about leadership.

Being in a conference with 150 people, gave some “logistical” problems during tea break (we call it “coffee break”) and lunch.  Since the hotel is fairly new, the staff needs some time to learn but we were able to get to the meeting room on time.

During the break-out sessions on “leadership – current healthworkers – future healthworkers – government/donors”, we encountered the energy and input off all attendees of all levels.  The “go around the table-principle” worked very well.  Every person was allowed to speak for 2 minutes min/max to spread out his idea/opinion.  No interruptions were allowed, no questions to ask during these 2 minutes.  Even the “silent” persons were being heard.  We finalized the day with poster sessions at the terrace under a blue blue blue sky.  How we deserved this weather 😊

Overall, we noticed “time-management”, one of the modules we created and trained to the mentors, is still a challenge in Africa.  My good friend (!!!) Adriaan was Time-keeper-on-duty.  I must say: he did well, given the fact we are in Uganda.

In the evening, we found out that the importance of the Caring Together project, in attendance of the Prime Minister, was going to be published on the FRONTPAGE of the online version of the newspapers.  Have we done good?  Or have we done good?  I would very much like to stress all credits for this go to Sarah, Aruna, Eireann and Kathryn, but we were a bit part of it :-)

When joining dinner (I was a bit late – not because TIA – but because of posting my blog), Martine gave me a personalized card.  It was an emotional message and I am proud to say: my colleague turned into a FRIEND.    Looking forward working together with her in the future.  It will be completely different and can only improve our work relationship. 

Since the project is really coming to an end now, dinner was “speech” time.  Julie Saunderson, Wim Parys, Pieter, Kathryn, …  every partner thanked all the persons who have collaborated to make this story a success.

For us, it was the last opportunity to spend some “relaxing” time with all our colleague-Alumni, as some of them need to leave tomorrow evening immediate after the Summit.  Although we are colleagues, you often do not know these people.  But being beyond Janssen, in a total different setting, you get to know people in another way.  I am sure when going to Beerse in the future, I have again extra people to connect with.  I would like to thank all these colleagues for the nice moments we had.

Ending my blog with the title: This is Africa.  For me Africa/Uganda is not only the country with the power cuts, or people having another perception of time.  Africa/Uganda is a wonderful country with warm-harted locals, having respect for each other, eager to learn new things.  Africa is in my heart, since last year and will be for the rest of my life.

Prime Minister and Dr. Addy

My Oprah! (Frances Burghouwt-Oviawe)