Management 101

Another quick post for the followers. I wanted to update everyone on the work we are doing here at the hospital. This whole week we have rolled out our 'new manager training' program for the future hospital administrative staff. Every day we have been holding meetings based on our training program, which we hope to conclude by the end of my 8 weeks here. The meetings have been going very well and we are making great progress!
The management training is right up Tim Clark's alley, with his experience in the Pharmaceutical industry. This training is also putting my MBA to good use, a degree I have received questions about since I signed up for it.
Many meetings have been held during a time without any electricity/power, so it has been darker and hotter than we would want (and remember, this is the nicest building in this entire area). This is how it has been since we have gotten here. Internet cuts out and power cuts out frequently, but as Dr. Mukalay said to us yesterday: "Welcome to Africa". Makes you appreciate what you have in the States even more.
We have our task from Project HOPE, and we have our task from the Hospital CEO. Starting with this week and for the next 6 weeks we will make as much progress as we can, finish our assignments, and see Cameroon culture!

10 million viewers and counting!

Bonjour!
Yesterday we were surprised to have a TV journalist come to Maria Rosa Nsisim for a promotional video/news clip about the hospital. Their aim was to increase awareness in the community about the hospital and also let viewers know what services are offered. Being the coveted HOPE volunteers that we are, Tim/Megan/Myself were asked to lead the explanations of each department. I personally covered the OR and Pharmacy. No make-up, prep, or lighting done; the video is el-naturale! Apparently it was showed last night on [Canal 2 International], one of Cameroon's most popular TV channels. We were told upwards of 10M viewers would see the 1min summary clip!
It was a nice little surprise to be asked to be on TV; since we get a copy of the entire video I might send it directly to Hollywood. Actor/Pharmacist possibly? I hope that more promotional videos and such are created within the coming months to put MRN Hospital on the map; this place is a boon in the area and with the work Project HOPE is doing (with the help of volunteers such as ourselves) the aim is for the hospital to be a center of excellence serving all types of people(s).

Au revoir!

P.S.
Megan wants to give a shout-out to K Mo and JC. I want to give a personal shout-out to the most important person on the other side of the Atlantic...Jellybean!!

Need to update while I still have internet

Bonjour!
Just another work update from Cameroon. This is Day 7 of 52 for me out here in Cameroon. So far we have been adjusting to the time, temperatures, and lifestyle here in the town of Ahala (section of town where the hospital is located). We have been getting a sense of how the hospital works by observing the different services offered here. There has been a lot of meet & greet, and remembering (and/or pronouncing) everyone’s name is a challenge for me. I have met all of the key hospital staff so far, we have toured most of the areas, and now we are settling in for our first week of heavy-duty work. We have taken a teaching/consulting role here at the hospital for the time being; our task is to train their new hospital administrative staff. Time to put that MBA to good use! We will be rounding with the new CMO every morning and have regular meetings with the administrative staff. It’s all very exciting, as we are charged with building the hospital from the ground up (figuratively).

Au revoir.

Going out of town, literally.

Our first weekend here in Cameroon was a success! We went out both days; spending Saturday touring the countryside with Eve and spending Sunday grocery shopping and dinner with the Blaz family. Saturday included visiting the town of Mr. & Mrs. Blaz and spending time at a family plantation. There we saw papaya trees, plantain trees, cassava (Cameroon potato), a cute goat missing its hind hoofs, a bat-pig, sugarcane, and various chickens/roosters. It was like visiting a farm with a litte more freedom for the animals. I tasted cassava, sugarcane, and Cameroon peanut butter for the first time. The family was very hospitable. Children were playing futbol in the mud. It was a good way to experience the rural areas. We came back to Ahala and hung out at a local bar, which happened to be family owned.
Sunday we went to [catholic] Church with the Blaz family, Cameroonian style. The choir was very lively, with each sermon being followed with song & dance. Church was followed by grocery shopping at an upscale supermarket (very, very expensive!) (but good to have the house stocked up), and a trip to Akono with Mr. Blaz to attend a campaign rally for President Biya. Many top Yaounde businessmen were in attendance; it was quite the event. There we also saw the very first Church built in Cameroon. We finished the evening with dinner at the Blaz compound, which happens to be situated next to Yaounde’s only golf course.
Next weekend we hope to visit a local wildlife preserve and go swimming!

arrived and hit the ground running

Hello readers!
The Project HOPE team (Kamran, Tim, Megan) has safely arrived in Yaounde, Cameroon. I had quite some experiences in the travels; the layover in Paris + Casablanca were uneventful and slightly cumbersome. Finally made it to Yaounde at 3:10AM this morning and on little sleep.
The updates will be frequent and short. Today being the first day, I don't have much to tell about. We took a grand tour of the hospital today, the Maria Rosa Nsisim Hospital and met with the Blaz Family (founders/CEO/board director).
Yaounde is an interesting place, definitely culture shock for me. We don't have running water but we have a 32" plasma! (they are working quickly on the running water issue).
The highlight of the day was meeting with the Blaz family and hearing their vision. The hightlight of the tour was to see the NICU, I saw a 4 babies there and one of them only weight 750gm!! They are so tiny and cute. I hope they make it; unfortunately the infant mortality rate here is very high.
I don't know if I can load pictures but I will try to keep them coming. For now, enjoy the first sight you see at the International Airport in Yaounde`.

Setting off for Yaounde, Cameroon

The time has come for the final Project HOPE rotation to begin! The trip has started with some flight difficulties; flight delays and extra layovers.
I hope to update the blog from Paris, France during my layover, and from Casablanca, Morocco. Finally I land in Yaounde, Cameroon @ Tuesday morning.
I hope my 8-week adventure is as good as the previous ones, and I hope to update this blog as frequently as I can with great photos & stories.
Stay tuned!