New reality working in Nigeria! Ugh!!

[SittingElf]

Got back to work for a seven week work tour in Nigeria on Saturday.  Lots of changes due to fear of Ebola.

First indication was new paperwork to be filled out for health inspection at the airport. Then, virtually anywhere you go now, you get infrared scanned for temperature.  Even we pilots are scanned everyday prior to entering our operational base, and then again when arriving at our living compounds.  The fear is palpable, and there is an general feeling here that Ebola will reach Nigeria in force at some point in the near future. (Already 25 cases and 9 deaths, and worse, these cases are in the two most populated cities in Nigeria, including the one where I work.)

We are no longer shaking hands, and we all carry around a pocket sized bottle of hand sanitizer, used very frequently. Malaria is the other problem, and I take an anti-malarial drug the whole time I'm in country. (Malarone).

Whereas in the past, most billboards and posters on the walls and buildings are adverts or religious revival notices... the new reality is the Ebola information posters like the two shown below.  This is an unusually long hitch for me due to having to pay back my company for an extra couple of weeks I took on a recent break to move my family from Germany back to the USA. So....UGH!!  Can't wait to get back to setting up my shop and feeling secure!

Cheers,
Frank

SIGNS OF THE TIMES....​

[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]

 

[wow]

Yikes!

That would scare the crap out of me. Especially when you have a young'un at home...

Please be careful AND I'll send best wishes that you're also lucky! Can't hurt to have it both ways, right?

 

[Kev]

Urghh [scared]

Can't you get a different assignment? ... Does the risk really justify the $'s?

I'll be honest - no amount of safeguard would convince me to go anywhere near the place.

Be safe Frank.

 

[Billedis]

Be well.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Darn, that's bad. Almost like the plague is here again. Stay safe.

 

[Sean7a]

Jeez.  Stay safe n get outta there soon.  Do keep us up to date.

 

[dltflt]

Be safe Frank.

 

[Carl Prentiss]

Looking forward to your safe return Frank.

 

[Kev]

Seems TROTW is getting very nervous about stuff in Nigeria. I really wish you could avoid going [sad]

 

[leakyroof]

Stay safe, you are in the danger zone for sure.  I worry about my sister who works at the State Dept. and was in many of those affected or nearby countries in Africa until recently. I wonder if they will stop her from traveling there at all until things are understood better.
  [eek]

 

[SittingElf]

Thanks guys!

So far, Nigeria seems to have dodged a bullet. There are currently no new cases here, but surveillance is at an extreme.

The other problem is that the virus is spreading like wildfire in three countries not far from Nigeria. The fear is that people in those countries may be apt to "escape", and some may end up in Nigeria not knowing that they have already been infected. (21 day incubation period on average).

Additionally, the WHO and CDC are saying that it is out of control, and could affect as many as 550,000 people by the end of the year.
On top of that, it is mutating with every new infection, and there are some virologists worldwide that say if it is not brought under control, there is the small possibility that it could go airborne at some point. If that happens, then I am out of here for sure! [scared]

I am more concerned right now about my wife who is a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Air Force.  She is a Medical Operations Squadron Commander currently assigned in Georgia. My fear is that she could be tapped to deploy at some point to Liberia as part of the new plan to send 3000 U.S. military troops to that country to help battle Ebola. I don't want here there! So far, she hasn't received any indication that she might be sent, but the military is famous for short notice deployments, so I continue to be concerned.

All good for now, and under 40 days to go before coming home!!

Cheers,

Frank

 

[cliffp]

Here's hoping you and your wife stay safe Frank!

 

[sgt_rjp]

Frank,
I saw some relativity good news this morning, not only were the infection and fatality rates lower in Nigeria than their neighbors, there are currently no known cases.  I guess you're around 2/3 through this hitch, here's hoping that you remain healthy and return to your family safely.

 

[Paul G]

Sorry if I missed another thread/post on it, are you back yet?

 

[SittingElf]

Sorry if I missed another thread/post on it, are you back yet?

Yup, got back Sunday the 2nd...just in time to vote.
I was in Florida, planning on taking care of my house there until the end of the week before going up to our house in Georgia, where my wife is currently stationed. Then my wife called me and said the hot water heater went on the fritz, and she couldn't take out time from work to arrange a plumber, so I got in the SUV, and though totally jet lagged, drove the six hours up to the house to get the heater repaired.
Upon arrival, I looked at the hot water heater (electric), and noticed the reset button had popped. Reset it and gave my wife a very long look of disgust as it started heating water again. [big grin] Six hours to push a button! Aghhhh! [eek]

USA until the 5th of December, then Xmas and New Years in the armpit of the dark continent...(Nigeria). Trying to get a few things done while I'm home, but every break feels shorter and shorter.  Ordered the tile for the workshop floor, but won't be able to have it installed until my return in mid-January. My contractor is waiting for the floor to be completed before installing an I-Beam to mount the Boom Arm. Once the Boom is installed, I'll have the electrician in to fully complete my 110 and 220 outlets, part of which will be snaking through the Boom. HVAC guy will be installing a 2.5 Ton AC/HEAT/Dehumidifier as a final step requiring outsiders.  Hope to have all completed by early summer.

This is all contingent on not getting Ebola during my African forays!!

Cheers,

Frank

 

[fatroman]

in the armpit of the dark continent...(Nigeria)

As someone with friends from Nigeria, allow me to suggest that your churlish display of small-minded bigotry has no place here on this forum.

 

[Paul G]

Glad you're well Frank, do you know when the travels there will all be done?

 

[RKA]

in the armpit of the dark continent...(Nigeria)

As someone with friends from Nigeria, allow me to suggest that your churlish display of small-minded bigotry has no place here on this forum.

Perhaps a little mutual understanding and respect is in order.  Frank could be a little more respectful in his description of the region demonstrating sensitivity to others.  And perhaps you could use less inflammatory language in your depiction of Frank and acknowledge that he is a little frustrated by his family situation which requires he and his wife to potentially put themselves in harms way and visit ground zero of this epidemic with no cure as a condition of their employment. 

 

[Paul G]

in the armpit of the dark continent...(Nigeria)

As someone with friends from Nigeria, allow me to suggest that your churlish display of small-minded bigotry has no place here on this forum.

I have a friend from Nigeria, and he would agree with Frank it's an armpit. Not sure where bigotry enters that equation. I grew up in Los Angeles and can take you to its armpits, everyplace has got them seemingly.

 

[Sean7a]

Ah Frank!  Just to push one button....  Sorry buddy   Could be worse things in life