Let me start by directly introducing you to this unassuming “grey box”! It is a GeneXpert device located at the Stephen Robert and Pilar Crespi Robert Regional Reference Laboratory in Mirebalais, Haiti where I have spent the past five months on my PULSE assignment. I had already been aware about the GeneXpert technology for HIV […]
Category Archives: Partners in Health
October
06
Some aspects of daily life in an African village…
posted by francoismr
(Version française : voir plus bas!) Here are some “vignettes” that try to describe a few typical aspects of the basic everyday life in an African village. I also wanted to highlight a few important differences between the way things are handled by more affluent Africans or by expatriates like me on the one […]
July
20
Arriving in Rwinkwavu…
posted by francoismr
(Version française : voir plus bas!) Here I am now in Rwinkwavu… a village towards the end of the Eastern road: this will be my base camp for the next 6 months. Beyond, there are another 20 kms with small villages and then… only wildlife: Akagera National Park ! [1] But I’m not going to […]
July
04
First impressions
posted by francoismr
(Version française : voir plus bas!) Leaving Brussels airport on July 2nd seemed somewhat strange… I am so used to travel through this airport, however today this is no ordinary business or tourist trip! I am leaving for my 6-month PULSE assignment with the N.G.O. Partners in Health (PIH) in Rwanda…This is in the context […]
January
27
Tionana Neno
posted by sylvia
As I sit here on my homeward bound flight I cannot believe my 6 months in Malawi is now over – I know people said it would pass quickly but really ……..😟 I am feeling so many emotions, sadness at leaving all the new friends I have made, gratitude for all they have shown me […]
December
13
Interview with Emily
posted by sylvia
I thought it was about time to share with you all, more details about Partners In Heath, the organisation I am volunteering with, here in Malawi and what better way than to talk to the Chief Medical Officer, Emily Wroe at Partners in Health (PIH), Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo (APZU) A quote from Paul Farmer co-founder of […]
November
25
More adventures in Neno
posted by sylvia
More adventures in Neno It has been awhile since my last blog as I have no idea where the time goes here but for somewhere with limited entertainment opportunities and serious lack of utilities, time seems to pass even more quickly than at home My procurement projects have been progressing and if you remember […]
November
19
A Time of Thanksgiving
posted by Susan Burriss
For those of you who are reading this BLOG and happen not to be US citizens here is a quick lesson on the history of Thanksgiving, one of Americans’ favorite, if not yummiest, holidays. And NO it is not just because we get to overindulge ourselves with traditional foods and not feel guilty— it is […]
November
05
Further lessons in Africa
posted by sylvia
I have been extremely lucky to recently visit a Pulse colleague in a neighbouring African country who is working with the same NGO as I am We were both very excited as we were initially due to be deployed together but for various reasons this did not work out and so a very kind invitation […]
October
22
Netball in Malawi 🇲🇼
posted by sylvia
Sorry I have not posted for a while as time seems to pass so quickly here before you know it another week has gone and it seems my time is well filled – I am not sure what with!! This post is all about my exciting foray into Malawian netball. For those of you who know […]
October
08
NO PHOTOS ALLOWED!
posted by Susan Burriss
This expression is well known “a picture is worth a thousand words” and I completely agree that throughout history a single photograph has changed the world’s perception of a person or event, or it has become an iconic symbol for generations. For me, there are 5 photos, many taken during times of conflict, which are […]
September
25
Lake Malawi oh and procurement!
posted by sylvia
Lake Malawi Sorry but I have been very lax in keeping up my weekly blog but to be honest time passes so quickly here! Work continues to progress with my presentation to the senior management team last Tuesday, regarding the revised procurement policy, going well. There are still some elements to iron out – including […]
September
10
Biggest achievement and biggest disaster!
posted by sylvia
So this week has seen my biggest personal achievement since landing in Malawi and my biggest disaster! Last Saturday while doing my weekly washing I accidentally dropped my phone in the washing bowl -aaaahhh! In all the time I have had a mobile phone – never so much as a scratch and 5 weeks in […]
September
02
A Malawian wedding and a construction project🏠
posted by sylvia
Well I am so quickly into my first month here and in some respects it feels like I have been here forever and in others the time has passed so quickly! I can’t believe that I had to go to Blantyre on Thursday to the immigration office to extend my 30 day visa- seems like […]
August
25
Reliable vs. Variable-which do you prefer?
posted by Susan Burriss
Since arriving on the continent of Africa I have come to recognize that two words “reliable and variable”, and their respective meanings, have much greater significance in individuals’ lives than what I would of previously thought. During moments of self-reflection I have realized that my life has been “very rich” with reliability; variability is not […]
