The Western Surge began the day that I left. I hear that there has been an increase in calls for ambulances to pick up suspect cases. The “push” will continue into the New Year and will be accompanied by restrictions on gatherings, festivities and travel over the holidays.


On my last evening, the “surge” team met over dinner to review the day’s work and I handed over my responsibilities. I had finished my mission report, which was a very useful exercise in reviewing achievements and lessons learned and in making recommendations for future teams.

The trip back across the estuary to the airport was uneventful and the health questions, temperature check and baggage search straightforward. Waiting on the tarmac was the last experience of a warm African evening.

Lois and I were reunited when I arrived in Geneva early on Thursday morning. I hope to be reunited with my bag soon as it will be leaving Freetown 4 days late, due to a “technical problem”!

Thursday was taken up by technical debriefs and a mandatory visit to the WHO health services and psychologist. I handed over my UN certificate, which marked the end of my mission. Later, Lois and I celebrated with fondue at the Café du Soleil, our old haunt.

The efforts to control the outbreak will continue in the months to come and I will be watching closely, but for now, from afar.