Five minutes with...Tim Heywood, health manager, Sierra Leone
No longer bottom of the UN Human Development Index, there are growing signs of improvement in Sierra Leone. Health manager Tim Heywood is playing a part in that. He’s volunteering there in partnership with VSO and the Welsh Assembly Government. Here Tim discusses the challenges of working outside his comfort zone and some of the surprises and rewards of his placement.
Before I arrived in Sierra Leone I knew only that it had suffered a terrible war, it was very poor and that it has the highest infant mortality rates in the World.
All that is true, but I have also been delighted by the huge optimism and commitment to work for change among my colleagues, the easygoing friendliness of the people and the stunning coastline and scenery. I think that living in Freetown is probably tougher than I expected, though it is a vibrant and fascinating place.
Many of the challenges facing the health system in Sierra Leone are recognisable to a UK health manager.
The scale of the problems and the constraints on resolving them are however on a completely different scale. There is a lack of basic infrastructure and supplies, and shockingly there are less than 4000 trained health workers serving a population of almost 6 million.
I can't quite believe how lucky I am to have arrived at a time when my UK background and experience is so relevant.
I have been working in the Human Resources department of the Ministry of Health, which is leading the work to recruit and support more trained and competent health workers. I am working alongside colleagues who are technically sharp, politically savvy, but very open to discussion and ideas. I am proud that they have welcomed me as a valued colleague.
People tell me they have appreciated having some more energy around to get on with the practicalities.
Sierra Leone has recently published a health sector strategic plan and there is now a huge amount of work in progress to bring the plan to life and set operational objectives. During my time here we have been analysing data, preparing actions for next year, and thinking through the implications of the proposed Health Services Commission.
I share an office with my boss, which has been great for learning quickly about the range of challenges and priorities he faces.
Today my boss and I were discussing a problem together and he commented that “two heads are better than one”. He is a very committed and experienced man, and I take that as a huge compliment on the way we have been able to work together.
Volunteering has certainly made me a better communicator, problem solver and strategic thinker.
Since I have been here, I have sat in many meetings asking myself ‘what is going on here?’, ‘what behaviour would be most useful in this setting?’ and ‘what contribution would be most useful to get where we want to go?’. Working outside your cultural comfort zone really brings these issues to the surface and tests your skills of perception and judgement.
This placement with VSO has given me far more of an insight into myself than any number of development centres or courses.
When it comes to resilience, emotional intelligence and sorting out your own personal values, you will learn more than you would ever expect.
I’m extremely lucky to have been part of the Welsh Assembly scheme and had my two-month placement seen as a learning opportunity.
You should be under no illusion that a placement with VSO is going to be easy. It is not like an extended holiday or an external management consultancy. You will be right in amongst it and you should prepare yourself to be challenged on pretty much every level. But if you are privileged enough to have been given the opportunity to make a difference in this way, I think the experience is hard to beat.
