Friendly faces in Rwanda

I share an office with Stefano (from Italy). He is a top expert on Avian Flu for pretty much all of sub-Saharan Africa. He just finished a week training Rwandese medical practitioners, lab technicians, and veterinarians on how to conduct Avian Flu testing. Getting to know him has made me feel much more hopeful (not to mention more informed) about locating and treating this disease.

I also share an office with Eddie (from Uganda). He is the CDC Rwanda expert on health information systems and is working to support (among other things) field practitioners in Rwanda reporting patient and treatment data on a monthly basis to a national database via their cell phones. This model is being used in other parts of Africa in public-private partnerships with phone and technology companies. Eddie is the go-to person for all inside information about where to buy things; where to travel; what to do on the weekends, etc. He is the person to know...how do you think I've been able to arrange weekend travel to so many places already!

We celebrated August and September birthdays in our office today. Here are some photos.

Me, Donald, Eddie, Aliou (TB/HIV medical expert with the cheeriest smile in the office!)

Daniel (a great baker who brought the homemade white/raspberry iced cake!)

Elyse (possibly the only female in Rwanda who rides her own motor bike to work) and Aliou

Me and Marie Claire

Jamir and Helen (visiting team members from Atlanta helping with end of year reporting and planning)

Isabelle and Bosco (procurement and finance team members)

I was invited to Donald's house last night for a Rosh Hashanah dinner (a celebration of the Jewish New Year).

I brought noodle kugel (thanks to my friend Amy's grandmother's recipe!). This is a traditional Jewish dish but I had to leave out some key ingredients not available in Rwanda (cottage cheese, etc.) I was able to add raisins; the dish was a big hit.