Roland Müller, the German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association's Representative in Tanzania, has written the first in a series of articles offering snapshots into the lives of those involved with ILEP wherever they happen to be in the world. What is needed to face up to the challenges that arise every day? Roland's answer:  "A stout heart!"

• Start of work around 7 am, there's no power (the generator only starts at 8 for the whole office building) but we have a Dutch back up system that is reliable like Dutch speed skaters.


• The medical advisor also comes too early but his car broke down. Get a new battery from our depot across the town (crossing the town during working time takes hours and hours).


• The B-forms of one project arrive with the administrator, are checked and revised even after we had a most interesting workshop last November. The visitor stays around 'til mid-day.


• The SER coordinator comes by and we revise his plan of action for the year as we made the plan last year when he was just a month in office.


• The invoice of eight motorcycles comes in along with the transport officer but the prices are too high, so we start negotiating over the telephone and finally agree on a "normal" price.


• Medical advisor is called by the ministry of health & social welfare for a surprise meeting on preparing training of ToT's for TB/HIV Aids. He was supposed to go through the B-forms.


• Special email (besides the normal lot) arrives from a Union Island where the old project car has been "taken" by the state hospital for emergency (their car broke down, projects cars are also serviced and maintained by GLRA). Calling and writing a letter explaining that the old car is actually on tender and can not be used for the time being. They give it back and take the new car instead.


• Writing a report on the last field visit attaching photos for the fundraising dept. of GLRA including a letter to the visited project trying to explain integration of services which is not so easy with 80 year old Sisters.


• Visitors from another project pop in for a short time.


• No lunch!


• In the afternoon visiting the National Programme and debating about supervision and how it could be intensified.


• Back in the office drafting a letter about the restructuring of an old leprosarium into a secondary school and consequently the integration of the services in the nearby hospital. Accompanied by the retiring of the Sister in charge with 95 years. Drafting a letter of recognition for her outstanding services.


• Preparing a supervision journey to one of the projects and calling it a day around 4.30 pm.



...for the record 7th March 2007

Roland Müller, GLRA (DAHW) Tanzania Representative
E-mail: glratznrep@bol.co.tz

If you enjoyed Roland's article and would like to contribute one, please contact the ILEP Secretariat: ilep@ilep.org.uk 

Categories: Field Activities, United Republic of Tanzania