Outbreak!

About three weeks ago, there was as an outbreak of meningitis in Awassa. Figures vary. Further investigation showed it had headed north from Arba Minch. Information is very scarce, thanks to the Ethiopian government who regularly try and "avoid panic”. However, all stocks of vaccines were dashed down to Awassa and up until last week it was impossible to find in Addis. On Monday it became available in the city again, but reserved for African Union families only. By yesterday it was possible to get at the Black Lion public hospital if you can prove you travel regularly. I should be the first in the line.

Wednesday is Senior Management Team meeting at the Secondary school, and one of my many agenda items is something that was brought up in Monday’s PTA – Rats in my school. They have been on campus since my arrival, breeding in all the shit that blockaded the rooms in the basement and took me six months to get cleared. However, the rodent population simply moved upstairs. Ato S informs Ato Sin (New Head of Admin) to use the same company that almost poisoned Ginger Warrior’s family as they attempted to kill the roach plague in their kitchen. Nice.

I arrive back on campus to find the Reprographics room is locked, Both Resources clerks are off with typhus apparentlly. Typhus, like the bubonic plague is carried by fleas in rats. With our regular water shortage, poor ventilated classrooms and a small overcrowded playground, we are the ideal Typhus breeding centre. This is now the 6^th potential case amongst staff in the last two weeks, and i am getting really concerned. I ask my Records’ Officer to see what what student absences have been like over the last two weeks, and numbers are rising steadily.

I decide to use one of my very few useful local contacts, Dr S. who is the chief medical officer for a flagship international airlines. Her child was the first autistic child to be admitted into our inclusion SEN programme. I call and ask her advice on what to do. She kindly sends me an email. Her recommendation seems sound. Close the school on for the rest of the week so we have time to scrub, disinfect and bleach the entire school. I try calling Ato S but his phone is switched off. IWith no phone number for new DGM (and Dr No replacement), i call Ato Sin. I tell him that i want to follow medical advise. He tells me in no uncertain terms that i need to follow protocol, and i need to go to the kebele in Bole, some six kilometres to get their approval and to send down the highy suspect “Nurse” Martha with the Medical Book and a copy of a drat letter informing them that i want to close the school and apologising for the “inconvenience that this may cause”.

I don’t trust Nurse Martha so i ask Mrs R to go with her and i drive them over to the Kebele. I take along Site purchaser,Yasin the Weasel so we can quickly fill in the necessary Requisition Order form for bleach and disinfectant, get the necessary 3 quotes, rush it over Finance, get the cash and then go and buy it. I get a call to pick up Nurse Martha – we have the draft letter stamped by both the Kebele and the adjacent Health Clinic and i call Ato Sin to say it has been confirmed. He tells me in know uncertain terms that until he has it in his hands, my letter remains on hold. As it’s written in Amharic i reluctantly acquiesce.

I take The Weasel back to Gerji to collect the supplies but by the time i get back to the office, it’s 4.45 and my secretary is locking up the office. Ato Sin has buggered off site and the letter was not sent out.

I call Ato Sin and bawl him out. I followed his instructions, got the letter approved and stamped and still my letter was not sent out. I tell him i am furious and to wait for me in his office, and not move until i arrive. He doesn’t have a car and i am only 10 minutes away on a good traffic day. He can’t get very far if he tries to do a bunk. I arrive in extra fast time, and in fairness he is at his desk. He informs me that the letter is worthless. It basically says they cannot stop me sending out my newsletter and won’t cover me legally. 

"Really Ato Mountain we will both end up in prison". 

I tell him i am prepared to take the consequence but the health and safety of my students are my top priority and i believe them to be in danger. This is confirmed by Mr T (glorified Head of 6th Form) who tells me to stay cool. He recommends asking the Maintenance team to spend the night disinfecting the school for their much loved over-time. I ask Ato Sin to call the campus immediately and “make it so”, and in fairness he does.

I don't get back home till 8.30 completely frazzled.