Friday, August 29, 2014

Angola Education 2.0

- Angola is about twice the size of Texas and more than three times the size of California.
- 27 year civil war ended in 2002
- Oil and gas activities contributes to around 85% of their GDP
- Climate: Semiarid in south and along the coast; north has a cool, dry season (May - October) and a hot, rainy season (November - April)
- Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975 
- One of the fastest growing economies in the world currently 
Several African tribes like Ovibundu, Mbundu, Chowke with unique cultural traits inhabit Angola
- One of China's major oil exporters
- It has been illegal to take any local money (kwanza) out of the country
- It is illegal to photograph any government building or facility 
Behind the new buildings and skyscrapers lie vast slum areas. Millions of the city’s poor live here in tiny houses with tin roofs and no electricity or running water. Known as musseques, these slums stretch for hours along the highways of Luanda.
- Across the country as a whole, the main staple is funje, a thick polenta-like food made from cassava/manioc flour or from cornflour (when it's called pirao)
- Life expectancy is around 50 but improving slowly 
- Angola lies in the yellow fever endemic zone. Cholera incidence is high

Flag of Angola

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Ebola Education

A Liberian woman holds up a pamphlet with guidance on how to prevent the Ebola virus from spreading, in the city of Monrovia, Liberia - 14 August 2014

Ebola is one of the world's most deadly viruses but is not airborne, so cannot be caught like flu. Medics say avoiding it should be quite easy if you follow these top tips:

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1. Soap and water
A resident washes his hands in chlorinated water at a public bathroom in the West Point slum on 19 August 2014 in Monrovia, Liberia

Wash your hands regularly with soap and clean water - and use clean towels to dry them. This can be difficult in slum and rural areas where there is not always direct access to clean water - but it is an effective way to kill the virus. Ordinary soap is all that's needed.

Shaking hands should also generally be avoided, Dr Unni Krishnan of Plan International told BBC Africa, because Ebola spreads quickly when people come into contact with an infected person's body fluids and symptoms take can take a while to show. Other forms of greeting are being encouraged, he says.

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2. No touching
People walk through the streets of Dolo Town, Liberia, which has been quarantined because of the Ebola outbreak - 23 August 2014

So if you suspect someone of having Ebola, do not touch them. This may seem cruel when you see a loved one in pain and you want to hug and nurse them, but body fluids - urine and stools, vomit, blood, nasal mucus, saliva, tears, sperm and vaginal secretion - can all pass on the virus.

An infected person's symptoms include fever, muscle and joint pain, sore throat, headache and fatigue - followed by nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, which may include blood.

Encourage them to seek help from a medical professional or health centre as soon as possible. It is also advisable not to touch the clothes or bedclothes of Ebola patients - and Medecins Sans Frontieres advises that such sheets and even mattresses be burnt.

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3. Avoid dead bodies
A team helps dispose of a person who died of Ebola in Liberia - August 2014

If you think someone has died from Ebola, do not touch their body, even as part of a burial ceremony. When someone has died, you can still catch Ebola from their body as it ejects fluids that make it even more contagious than that of a sick person.

Organise for a specialised team to deal with the body as quickly as possible as it is risky to leave a dead body for any length of time in a cramped living area.

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4. No bushmeat
A woman roasts a fresh bushmeat, at the Ajegunle-Ikorodu market in Lagos, Nigeria - 13 August 2014

Avoid hunting, touching and eating bushmeat such as bats, monkeys and chimpanzees, as scientists believe this is how the virus was first transmitted to humans.

Even if a certain wild animal is a delicacy in your region, avoid it as its meat or blood may be contaminated. Make sure all food is cooked properly.

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5. Don't panic

Spreading rumours increases fear. Do not be scared of health workers - they are there to help and a clinic is the best place for a person to recover - they will be rehydrated and receive pain relief.

About half of the people infected in the current outbreak have died. There have been cases of medics being attacked and people being abandoned when they are suspected of having Ebola - even when they are suffering from something else.

Angry people quarantined in the West Point township in Liberia's capital, Monrovia, wait for relatives to deliver them food and personal items - 23 August  2014

A belief in irrational traditional remedies has also exacerbated the spread of the virus.

"Prevention is the best way to deal with Ebola, so stop rumours and do not panic; it is possible to reduce the suffering and save lives," Dr Krishnan says.

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Ebola Virus Disease (EVD):
  • Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage
  • Fatality rate can reach 90% - but current outbreak has mortality rate of about 55%
  • Incubation period is two to 21 days
  • There is no vaccine or cure
  • Supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting can help recovery
  • Fruit bats, a delicacy for some West Africans, are considered to be virus's natural host
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For more updates on Ebola, you down a BBC podcast issued twice a week on the latest health advice about the virus.


Sunday, August 24, 2014

Until next cycle or next travels

So nice to be home.
Eat, drink, exercise, sleep, play, see everyone, all X10.

Back to work some too and hope to get that work visa approved and keep moving this project forward. Must also keep trying to learn the language and work on the overall health strategy.

And align schedules and plan some trips.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Home

Back yesterday and I have to say it is so so nice to be home.  I got giddy just getting in my Jeep and going to the store- because I could and get whatever food I wanted.  

My visa still has not been approved so my colleague will start first in a couple weeks then I will begin officially in early October.  I'm ready for sure but will enjoy my time while here and see as many friends and family as I can.  

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Ready for a break

After 10 check stations at the airport in Luanda, we are closer to getting on the Houston Express.  It's been an interesting and good 3 weeks for me and I am ready to come back as soon as I get my visa.  
The lounge is a nice, needed treat right now. 



Monday, August 18, 2014

Back to TL

Just sharing some pictures of platform TL- Tambua Landana. 
We got to see the operations and a well being drilled. Really interesting process.  I love all the mechanical stuff.  

In the control room which has a pulse on every operation occurring on board. 

Some well heads around us. They are the top of what is connected and being extracted far below. Product enters pipe and goes through the separating and filter processes.  If you touch a well head and it's warm, that means it's getting some oil. If cool, it is getting gas or not in operation. At least that is what our guide said. Either way, fascinating operations and all in all seems very clean.  



Sunday, August 17, 2014

Sunday Sanctuary

Last two Sundays my colleague and I have taken a car to the Marginal- a nicer promenade area where we can walk a couple miles. Then the relaxing terrace of Hotel Presidente for a beer or more.  It is a peaceful break from the staff house area.  
Local beer Cuca. Not bad. 



Saturday, August 16, 2014

Sample offshore quarters

Living offshore working for a 21-28 day shift probably takes a certain type.  They make the platforms as comfortable as possible and there are several outlets to escape. I think most just work, eat and sleep. Some play games, work out, play xbox and watch TV.  

One of the newer platforms

One of the older
We hope to make even more available offshore to promote health and well being  for years to come.  

No worries on Ebola

Our medical department has been providing all employees with Ebola updated and information.  They have a plan in place to manage any outbreaks.  

Just a note, the Marburg virus is more deadly and there were some cases here many years ago.  In general we all need to take precautionary measures of sanitation and hygiene which is all we can do.  Or live in a bubble.  

Frisky Monkey Morning

Good morning with the monkeys. Not sure if the one is looking around to see if anyone is watching but at least I got my morning entertainment.  Laughing is good therapy. 
Hopefully heading back to luanda today.  

Friday, August 15, 2014

Early Day Offshore

Up around 4 to head offshore. All went well and the operations are truly amazing. The fact that these structures are built and operated so far offshore are in itself a feat. 
Went to platform TL. It is one of our newest. In simple terms, they drill on it, set up a well, extract oil, gas, sand and water. Then filter and process the elements until separated enough to send on a pipeline to other platforms or the refinery onshore.   We were far out and could not see any land.  
The platform has a gym, cafeteria, game room, meeting rooms, offices, control rooms and then of course the operations. 
Getting off the helo. 
Taking off. 

Not TL but a small platform. There are many wells and structures out there. 
Part of Malongo camp. 
Operations like these are where we help fuel the world. Our job is to try to get people to take care of their health and well being so they can go home safe and healthy everyday.  





Thursday, August 14, 2014

Back in Malongo

Back in Malongo to show my colleague. Cabinda and Malongo are in Angola but on one side is the republic of Congo and the other is the Democratic Republic of Congo- so it is kind of separated from Angola but still considered Angola. 
Angola below. You can see Cabinda in the small piece of land to the north.  
Cabinda is located in Angola
Getting up at 4 or so to go offshore to a different platform to get a better understanding of the lifestyle many workers endure while on shift.  Amazing work occurring out there that has a lot of global impact.  I hope we can put some good plans together to help them manage their health better so sll go home healthy and safe every day.  
Night flaring is kind of pretty. 
More bats. Lots of bats but very rare that they bother anyone.  
End of a long day. 
A glimpse of what a lot if life is like for Cabinda folks. 
The Luanda domestic airport is interesting. They don't have signs for the airlines.  The signs and lines are of the energy companies here.  
We take the Dash 8 to and from.  

The dorm life is different here since you are basically sharing the room with your co- worker on alternate schedules. When visiting they just put you in whosever room is not occupied.  Adapt and adjust, adapt and adjust......



Off to Cabinda

Heading out to Cabinda and Malongo again. May chopper out to a platform again and continue to learn about the business.  

Fascinating accomplishments on and offshore. 

The important thing is we went for pizza last night at a local back street and it was pretty good.  

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Relaxing

Took a nice walk around a newly developed promenade area today with coworker and went to a very nice hotel for a beverage.  Some nice developments occurring.  

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Dinner


Good dinner with colleagues. 
I had a full grilled octopus and caipirinha to drink- Brazilian drink kind of like a margarita. 
Yum. 


Filling the time

Usually I will be busy working every weekend but not this one. What to do?  
My colleague got here so I want to stay around to help him out. 
Going out to dinner tonight so that is the big plan. 

Killing time watching tv, work out later, have lunch, maybe work some in room, walk around if safe but no where to walk around here. Write pointless stuff on this page. The good thing is that people are nice and companies like ours are doing some great community investment here including healthcare and social initiatives.    
Pot hole is more than that. At least there are some roads
I dig this building a lot. 

A couple of important signs I saw in some WC's.