A request from VSO
on Freetown Blog (Sierra Leone), 26/Nov/2009 22:22, 34 days ago
VSO London has been in touch today, wanting feedback on my experience of being here. The demand for health managers is greater than their ability to recruit and they are looking for case studies to use for publicity and advice for others who might be considering applying. As with a lot of things here, I find it difficult to comment without sounding contradictory: it is one of the most challenging things I have ever done, but being here does not feel like a hardship; I feel like I'm working as part of a team with my Sierra Leonian colleagues, but I am not sure whether I have made any difference at all; daily life in Freetown is exhausting and frustrating, but nearly every day I have experiences that make me laugh and put a spring in my step. However, I'm aware that such ramblings might not be of much use to VSO, so I have tried to answert their questions as best I can:· What expectations/preconceptions did you have of Sierra Leone before you arrived and how far have they been met or challenged?Before I arrived, the only things I really knew about SL were that there had been a war here; that it was very poor; and had the highest infant mortality rates in the World. All that is true, but so is the huge optimism and commitment to work for change among my colleagues, the easygoing friendliness of the people and the stunning coastline and scenery.I think that living in Freetown is probably tougher than I expected, though it is a vibrant and fascinating place.· When you arrived in Sierra Leone, what was the situation in its hospitals? What challenges were they facing?My job is working in the Ministry of Health, so I’m not based directly in a hospital. However, I have spent some time with the hospital manager at the teaching hospital in Freetown, who did a health management Master’s degree in the UK . Many of the challenges are recognisable to a UK HS manager, but the scale of the problems and the constraints on resolving them are of a completely different magnitude.· What does your day-to-day work involve?I share an office with my boss, which has been great for learning fast about the range of challenges and priorities he faces. SL has recently published a health sector strategic plan and there is now a huge amount of work in progress to bring the plan to life and set operational objectives. During my time here we have been analysing HR data; preparing for next years operational plan; and thinking through the HR implications of the proposed establishment of the Health Service Commission. (see blog 18th Nov).· What positive changes have you seen as a result of your work?It is difficult to say whether I have had any impact in such a short space of time, but people tell me they have appreciated having some more energy around to get on with the practicalities. Today, my boss and I were discussing a problem together and he commented that“two heads are better than one”. He is a very committed and experienced man, and I take that as a great compliment on the way we have worked together.· Looking back at your work, what are you most proud of?I am proud to have been seen as a valued colleague by senior people in the Ministry of Health for whom I have great respect (See blog 20th Nov).· Can you tell me about any skills you have gained or enhanced as a result of volunteering? For example, would you say you're a better leader/communicator/decision maker / influencer/problem solver/strategic thinker/innovator etc?Since I have been here, I have sat in many meetings having to work from first principles to consider questions like‘what is going on here?’; ‘what behavior would be most useful in this setting?’. ‘What contribution would be most useful to get where we want to go? ’. ‘How might my presence and behavior be impacting on others?’ These are issues we confront daily in all management settings, but we make assumptions when operating in a familiar cultural context that we probably shouldn’t. Working outside your cultural comfort zone really brings these issues to the surface and tests your skills of perception and judgement.· How far would you recommend volunteering to others?I’m lucky to have been part of the Welsh Assembly scheme, as my two month placement has always been understood primarily as a learning opportunity. I think that anyone doing this sort of thing should be under no illusion that that it is going to be easy. It is not like an extended holiday, or an external management consultancy. You will be right in amongst it. So don’t do it if you aren’t prepared to be challenged on pretty much every level. But if you are, then I think the experience is hard to beat.