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“Sophie’s Choice?” . . . Some Choices Are Destined To Be Changed . . .By Nuzhat Shahzadi

On return from Kiritimati island, I met with the Hon. Minister of Health to discuss about my mission. The situation at the maternity ward in Nawerewere/Tungaru Central hospital in Tarawa was no better.

“Suppose you’re in a medical emergency, need oxygen urgently and an infant also needs it at the same time for survival . . . we have only one oxygen concentrator in the entire island . . . whose needs will be prioritized? Who will live, who will die, Hon Minster? Please tell me,” I said with a sob in my voice (again).

. . . it was like the movie “Sophie’s Choice” (1982). The story is about Holocaust . . . a Jewish mother is forced to make a desperate choice between her minor son and daughter . . . I tried to watch it when my son was a toddler . . . I couldn’t––my heart broke . . .

Hon. Minister looked at me. He got up and put his arms around my shoulders. I knew my plea had pierced his heart.

“Nuzhat let’s work together on this,” the good man said with a gentle firmness.

My battle began . . . I had forwarded my mission report to Suva with a note to senior management requesting for support for the maternity wards–– in Kiritimati and Tarawa.

I didn’t care about protocols––decided to engage our donor-partners directly, didn’t seek permission from Suva, anyone. Every moment lost could result in one more neonatal death.

I spoke with the Secretary of Health, Dr. Teatao Tira and the High Commissioner of Australian mission—H.E. George Fraser. He and his wife, Denise, were good friends. On a tiny island we often met at state functions and events. I usually sat with them and other diplomats on such occasions.

I had good friendship with the first secretaries and staff of both New Zealand and Australian High Commissions. When I first landed, Sophie, the outgoing first Secretary of the Australian High Commission took me around the island, invited for dinner at her place. She was replaced by Alison, who, for a long time thought I was from Columbia (!).

Australian MP (s), H.E. the Governor General Madam Quentin Bryce (2012) honored me by meeting me to discuss women’s and children’s health condition in Kiribati. They attentively listened to my concerns that I raised with them, and promised to support. As we spoke, she said something like—I am glad the UN employs women in management posts. I am so proud, so glad you’re here . . .

. . . a series of meetings took place with the health Ministry. They finally bought 2 oxygen concentrators for Kiritimati—one on credit relying on me to raise the funds for it as well as for (fetal) dopplers for the hospitals in Tarawa and Beito.

I approached H.E. George directly.

“I am in, Nuzhat,” He became our knight in shining armor. He was already motivated, though.

He agreed to pay the cost of one Oxygen concentrator including air-freight which was expensive (total cost: AU$ 3,258). It was placed inside the maternity ward in Kiritimati. I think he also paid for the dopplers. He further contacted his rotary friends and procured 6 hospital beds for Tarawa as women were delivering on the floor due to lack of beds. He was also in the process of procuring used medical equipment through the rotary (I can’t now remember how many of those were brought in). Love for babies was now instilled in his heart in full force!

A series of email-storm began . . . it grew . . . and grew . . .

I decided to engage at the second level of the battle for the newborns and infants. ARI was impacting them. Dr. Teatao requested for 5 nebulizers and 5 suction machines. H.E. George became my fulltime “partner-general in crime.” We used the same supplier as UNICEF-Suva. Christine Calo-oy, our supply asst in Suva provided exceptional support. A five-way communication began: me-Ministry of Health-Australian High Commission focal point/George-supplier-Suva-office.

There were so many hiccups-loop/pot holes to manage . . .

And finally, all the equipment arrived. On 5 December, 2014 at 10:00 AM at the Ministry boardroom in the presence of high officials, H.E. George and I officially handed over the life saving equipment at the Nawerewere hospital and Beito hospital.

. . . I had already notified the office about my intention to quit but agreed to stay till our annual workplans were signed with the government. NYHQ-HR tried to place me––my options were Liberia or South Sudan (I wanted some place like Bangkok which didn’t happen . . . I guess my skills-set and “no-strings” didn’t work?!)

I left Tarawa for good on 20 March 2015. Many things happened during my tenure––I intend to write about them . . .

DHR termed my departure as “early retirement.”

H.E. George, Hon Minister of Health, Nuzhat at a meeting

Secretary Health, Nuzhat, Hon Minister, H.E. George & equipment

The "A Team"

Close Up: Equipment

Thanks to UNICEF, DFAT

H.E. George, Nuzhat and Nurses: equipment hand over Beito hospital

Comments

  1. Thanks, Rohini. Actual Kudos are for H.E. Geroge Fraser, Australian High Commissioner, Dr Teatao, Health Secretary and Hon Minister of Health, Kiribati. They were the super-heroes committed to save the lives of under-five babies . . . I feel honored to have known them personally and worked with them.

    ReplyDelete

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