The Simple Goal
on Freetown Blog (Sierra Leone), 24/Mar/2010 13:28, 34 days ago
The transformation of the Ministry of Health into a place of rapid decision and action over the past three months is highlighting how much work there is to do on fundamental organisational issues - communication, delegation, focus on execution etc etc (i.e. the challenges that face pretty much every government organisation and health system, only much more so).Most days, something happens that give me a vertiginous feeling of just how close to the wind we are sailing: Yesterday, we were preparing for a tour of Districts to validate payroll information and finalise recruitment of new staff, whose applications have been pending in the central office. The visits start today, but at about 3pm we heard that the visit schedule clashes with National Immunisation Days over the weekend, which means that the staff we need will not be available. So there had to be rapid re-scheduling and all the related challenges of communicating that to Districts. That done, we found at  that 5pm, we were still trying to track down the appropriate combination of drivers, vehicles and fuel for the trip. Under other circumstances, the visits could have been delayed, but if they don't happen now, then deadline of sorting out the payroll and recruitment of additional staff before the launch of Free Health Care on 27th April will not be met.Which brings me to my other (self-imposed) deadline, which is to find myself somewhere to live before the weekend. This morning, I think I have cracked it: The Simple Goal Guest House is a ten minute walk from work, in a quiet spot with water, electricity, aircon, and a small balcony from my room looking out over Freetown hills. I met the landlord this morning and am due to move in tormorrow. To maximise the chances of this happening, I am now using the estabished management technique of keeping my fingers crossed.