(This is Elie and I)One different thing about this month was that the US Ambassador for South Sudan came to our compound to take a look at what we were doing here, and to have a tour of the Juba Military Hospital. JMH is our next-door neighbour here. AECOMs compound was built on the JMH grounds. It was a big deal to have the Ambassador come to our compound and to observe what were are doing here and how the courses are benefiting the community, as well as the extent to which the hospital needs renovations. It was a slightly stressful morning, however we got through it without a hitch. It could not have gone any better.
Ambassador Page is a wonderful woman. Amazingly intelligent and real. She walked from ward to ward at the hospital getting the detailed tour and all of the relevant information for her to realize the situation facing the hospital, its staff and patients, as well as the instructors and staff from AECOM who are using this hospital as training grounds for our courses.
(A demonstration by the Combat Medic Course Students)We renovated the Maternity Ward and it turned out wonderfully. Eventually the goal is to have the hospital renovated but the funds are not currently there to do so. There has been an amazing donation towards renovating the surgical ward. Very good. The Surgical Ward certainly needs the renovation. It is basically a big room with bed in it. Definitely not a place I would want to get surgery in. It will be a very exciting day when the renovations start there.
A very down to earth woman whose visit was huge for the company and even more important for the hospital. The hospital is in major need of renovations. The SPLA does get money from the government but of course the hospital never actually sees the money. Yet another example of the corruption that is quickly ruining the country.
How cool is it that you got to meet the US Ambassador! Such an experience!
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