Your experiences in NGO/relief work ?

[jean-vivien]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7495161.stm

Hi,

 I was reading the above series of articles about a relief clinic in Sierra Leone. The articles describe how the staff at the clinic has to work, and gives details and anecdotes about their daily work. As I was reading it, I thought it would be interesting to hear the same kind of stories from LATOC forum members. In the same kind of situation : providing relief, medical assistance in poor or disaster-stricken areas - what could be the practical problems you had to face daily, the challenges you had to take, the psychological/moral implications, etc... ? I think the question might be relevant even in the USA, which has unfortunately had its share of disasters lately (summer floods and fires, hurricanes...)

[terra-ist]

Hi JR - only just read this.

I spent 2 years in Uganda 5 years ago doing voluntary work at NGOs. I don't think I've ever really recovered from the experience. You have to be tough. The sort of thing in the story about the woman dying because she wouldn't go to the clinic, that's typical. And people being malnourished because of their choice of diet. Yes, they have limited choices but casava leaves are high in protein but in Uganda it wasn't their tradition to eat them. And they wouldn't sleep under mosquito nets. Or get their kids treated for malaria till it was too late. I didn't find that there was much I could do to make any difference. I found the values very challenging and contrary to improving the quality of life.

I think there are cultural aspects to being a developed society which takes many generations to happen. Having said that, many people from Uganda go to live in other societies and become doctors, lawyers and politicians. It's very hard to function in a non functioning society.

I also suspect that the way the aid programs have tended to work doesn't encourage societies to develop.

[jean-vivien]

Hi terra-ist,

 thanks for sharing your interesting insight.

I can only imagine how one might feel about such an experience, nevertheless I would like to express you my respect for doing it.