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dreamyfanfix · 8 months

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Chapter 5: Long Gone But Not Moved On

Sorry, I know this is late but I was writing and kept writing and then I had 15K words. I eventually found a stoppage point but it required me to write a bit around some things especially because this chapter and the next are a bit miserable for the pair. It will get better though...

Present:

It had been a couple of days since Kate had a near miss with Anthony in the hospital. Learning about how much of a bad time he had been having since they were forced to see each other again was not something she took lightly. Kate barely remembered what happened after her breakup with Anthony. All she remembered was deep pain and then almost being lucid again 5 months later with a puppy named Newton and an urge to do better.

Seeing Anthony again was not easy for her either but unlike Kate, Anthony had moved on and so even though it hurt her to see him with Siena and hear about his dalliances from gossipers, Kate kept her head down and tried to be a good ex-girlfriend.

Kate had gotten messages and missed calls from Daphne and Simon. Kate knew that avoiding Simon would be too difficult hence why she found herself in Agatha Danbury's office this early morning.

Kate had just handed Agatha her notice and Agatha was surprised and irritated, to say the least.

"I thought we agreed you would give me more time to discuss with the shareholders about promoting you," Agatha said sternly.

"We did but things changed. I think it would be best if I moved on," Kate said with what she hoped was finality.

"If this is what that Bridgerton boy said to you at my godson's baby shower then you must know that I gave him and his mother a stern talking to,"

"I don't doubt it but you know I wanted to move more into family law. Do not get me wrong I think we have done a good job rattling the feathers of the elite but now I think it's time I get to work on fighting with the less fortunate," Kate said.

"You are making me regret investing in your friend's firm," Agatha chuckled.

"You won't regret it. Sophie is more determined than me when it comes to this stuff and it will be a challenge but I have always done my best as a solicitor when I was the underdog," Kate said chuckling a bit.

"I guess I have to understand that thought myself," Agatha continued "I accept your notice, Kate," Agatha stood up to shake Kate's hand and Kate stood up to take it.

"Thank you. You have been an incredible mentor all these years," Kate said emotionally.

"Hush now child, you will shine just fine on your own. And if not there will always be a place for you here at Danbury Law," Agatha said.

"Thank you again," Kate said and made to leave but not before asking the question she has had on her mind since she first started at Danbury Law "Why is the firm called Danbury Law?" Agatha turned to face Kate again and looked at her with an arched brow "Why not name it Agatha Law or Soma Law after your maiden name?"

Agatha sighed and then said "You must know I am a proud West African woman but my relationship with my past is not that positive I'm afraid," Agatha took a breath and continued "I grew up in a small village in Sierra Leone, my family did not have much of money, prospects or connections. When I was 8 years old I was attending church with my parents when a man came to town, he was from a village over but he got adopted by a British family and was visiting his country of birth. He took one look at me and proclaimed me the most beautiful girl in the world. Naturally, this is not an uncommon thing I had heard when I was younger but he was hyper-fixated on me, he made me laugh and promised my parents he would come back to marry me... My parents were thrilled," Agatha paused to take a seat behind her desk "From then onwards I was raised to be his wife, he would send letters with his interests, likes and dislikes and my parents would make sure I would know all of these things and submit to his lead. After the death of his benefactors slash parents, of which he received a hefty inheritance, he came back to Sierra Leone and married me, exactly like he promised he would,"

Kate slowly walked back into the room and took a seat opposite Agatha's desk "That seems like a fairytale,"

Agatha smirked "That's what all the society women would say when we came back husband and wife, Lord and Lady Danbury," Agatha sighed and continued "You see back in the eighties people were not that particular about age gaps. I was a 19-year-old girl married to a 42-year-old man. To society I was just indicative of how men crave young flesh and young women are opportunists. They didn't see the possible terrible dynamic I was in... See I was dependent on my husband, Sierra Leone was not exactly the most stable political environment and despite my decrepit husband, and I hope you don't mind my candour here, constant copulating his young wife, I liked England. I liked the freedom that I had and what hindered me because of my race, my new wealth and my title would sort out no problem. I did my duty, I gave him 4 children, 2 sons and 2 daughters, who wished for nothing and lived their lives well-off,"

"So it was a mutually beneficial relationship? Not quite unheard of, especially in my culture, although not as romantic as one might think. I guess your loyalty to your married life is why you keep the name Danbury Law," Kate said.

"Oh no. I may hate my family for pawning off on an old man but I despised the late Lord Danbury," Agatha held her hand up to stop Kate from interrupting her and continued "I loathed the late Lord Danbury, so I use my wealth and influence to fund all things he would have hated when he was alive. My husband was one of those Black people who enjoyed being the only one in the room and hated the idea of educating women and desegregating the classes as well as spent his time fighting AGAINST well-rounded immigration policies particularly people from former colonies which was incredibly awful considering Sierra Leone was one itself,"

Kate took a calming breath while Agatha looked off into the distance "I still don't understand why you would then want anything to do with him,"

"It's not enough to fund movements and bills that would help dismantle everything my husband held dear, no, I have to do it using his name so he will always be associated with it. Most people, like yourself, live their life to honour their families, and make them proud and in a lot of ways I am doing the same. I do what I am doing because it's important to me that wherever Herman is he rots and whatever kind of legacy he thought he was building gets overshadowed by the work I am doing. I want to make sure that future generations including my children, will think of me when they think of Danbury and all the work I have done to dismantle this terrible inequitable society,"

"I think that's an honourable vision," Kate said, feeling emotional and proud at the same time. Lady Agatha Danbury was a badass, it is just a shame that she had to go through so much to be that way.

----

Past:

Anthony was on cloud nine. Kate and Anthony had been together for 5 months and they would be making their first public appearance as a couple, at a benefit being held by Bridgerton Investment Group, and he couldn't be more happy. He looked at himself one more time in the mirror and then checked his watch for the time. He and Kate would be late if he did not check on her soon. She was not good with time but that is why he usually got her going early to get ready because he had timed her preparation times and averaged them out to understand how long she generally needed to get ready.

It was super analytical but he also knew that Kate appreciated being a bit more on time to things so he felt secure in his efforts.

As Anthony made his way to his bathroom, Kate came over to get ready as he was nervous she would back out and she was nervous that they would not look good together.

Anthony was not nervous about this event, he had been to millions of events like these but he knew Kate was feeling nervous because she had never really interacted with wealthy people unless they were on the opposite side of the courtroom. Kate was close friends with Simon but Simon had a way of keeping things close to the chest so there was no way of knowing if she knew the full extent of these events.

He knocked on the door to his master bathroom and entered. Kate was busy with her makeup but Anthony could not focus, she looked incredible. She was wearing a light pink dress that hugged her curves as well showing off her cleavage.

"Uhmmm babe you're staring," Kate said, he had not even noticed she was looking at him through the mirror and slightly blushed.

Anthony walked up behind her and kissed her neck "I was just thinking about how stunning you look," Anthony said nipping at her neck. He took a whiff of her neck and she stopped, he could see the goosebumps travel up her neck and he felt full of himself for a moment.

"If you continue like that we are going to be late," she said trying to sound stern but it came out breathless Anthony chuckled but backed out of the room.

The benefit was a success at least Anthony thought it was. He was currently having a drink with his friends, no cigars because Kate hated the smell, and his friends were ribbing him about the fact.

When he and Kate first arrived there seemed to be hesitation in their reception but as they went around the room and said their hellos, many people seemed to relax and commented on how well they complemented each other so he relaxed and eventually he felt confident enough to leave Kate to her mingling and went to catch up with some old friends of his.

Simon finally put out his cigar and Anthony took a breath, even though he was not smoking himself, he knew the smoke in the room could linger on him "So Bridgerton, you and Sharma doing good?" Simon asked.

"Yeah Bridgerton, you seem to be taken completely out of commission these days," Marcus Fife commented.

"What can I say, gents? I'm happy," Anthony stated trying not to blush and shrug.

"Well, then it makes sense curry is the national dish, then? I might get me one of those," Conrad Pemberton remarked.

"Excuse me?" Anthony said as his blood turned to ice.

"Pemberton, Chicken Tikka Masala is the national dish you idiot," Fife exclaimed.

"Okay, so how do I get me one of those Tikka Masala's Bridgerton?" Pemberton said with a chuckle.

Pemberton stopped talking the minute Anthony got in his face, he was angry beyond belief and was shocked at how much his old friends could be so cavalier with their racism "Pemberton speak about my girlfriend or any Indian like that again and I will pummel you just like in sixth form,"

Fife came between the two men and said "Relax Bridge, I know you are going through your Prince Harry phase but eventually, you got to do your duty like the rest of us heirs and marry yourself a Kate Middleton,"

Simon who had left the room to go to the bathroom was back and asked "You all know Kate Middleton is already married, right?"

Anthony was trying and failing at calming himself down and Anthony thought Simon could see his distress but did not comment on it "I was just telling Bridgerton that eventually he's gotta settle down, right?" Pemberton said with a bit of smugness that Anthony did not like and he narrowed his eyes.

Simon looked between Anthony to Pemberton and asked "Is that not what you are doing with Kate? Settling down?"

Anthony knew Simon cared deeply for Kate so he was probably asking more for himself than Pemberton "Of course I am. I would not bring her as my date if I was not serious about her,"

Simon nodded his head "Oh come off it Bridge, this has to be a piss-take. You are a man of a particular taste," Fife said

Anthony was now full-blown seething but asked "What the hell does that even mean?"

"I don't know but we definitely haven't seen you eat an Indian meal before mate so colour us curious," Fife said with his hands up.

"Anthony goes for the women he finds attractive, he does not date based on race," Simon said trying to de-escalate the situation "Maybe, we should change topics?" he suggested.

"Okay fine, but mate let me know if Kate has any friends or a sister, I would love to have a taste of the national dish," Pemberton said chuckling.

Anthony was not sure what happened next but Anthony had to be hoisted off of Pemberton by Simon. Pemberton's face and Anthony's knuckles were bloody and Fife was laughing in the corner.

Simon dragged Anthony into a separate room and left him to cool off, at least that is what he thought until he returned with Kate and his mother.

"Anthony darling, are you alright?" Violet asked "We heard there was a tussle that occurred,"

While his mother stayed close to the door and looked at him curiously Kate came closer to him to inspect him, touching his face and Anthony felt better but also sick with guilt at the same time.

"Well I'm not sure if it was a tussle or more like a one-sided beatdown," Simon remarked.

"Well you don't look injured, so who did you hit?" Kate asked but Anthony did not reply, he could not reply. He just is not sure how he would explain to Kate how his ex-friends spoke about her and women of her race. He was disgusted with himself so he remained silent.

Simon who thought this was a conversation that should not be in public suggested "Maybe we should leave the benefit,"

"We can't leave they have not even gotten around to announcing how much money was raised tonight," Violet said seeming concerned.

"Violet, by now everyone knows what happened so I don't think there will be more or less gossip if Anthony just leaves a bit earlier," Simon said smoothly.

"Anthony, what happened?" Kate asked so gently that Anthony's heart broke all over again.

"It was just some old form mates saying some dumb stuff, Anthony's had a few drinks so he just lost his temper," Simon said trying to help Anthony so he did not have to have this conversation in a room at a public benefit that was still ongoing.

"Well, what did he say, Anthony? What could he have possibly said to excuse your deplorable behaviour?" Violet asked and Anthony stiffened, he knew that tone coming from his mother, it was dripping with disapproval.

"There were some things I did not agree with so I got mad," Anthony said softly.

"Anthony most of the gentlemen here have been your chums for decades, what could they have possibly said that angered you so?" Violet asked.

Anthony stayed silent but then Kate asked "They said something about me didn't they?"

Anthony's head turned to her and she was looking in his eyes not with judgement but with like resolved and sad eyes. Anthony swallowed and nodded his head.

"Well, Anthony boys will be boys. I've heard you and your brothers say some appalling things about women but I do not resort to roughness to correct you," Violet said.

"Well maybe you should have," Kate said in a soft voice but she knew that his mother probably heard her. She remained looking at her hands.

"It wasn't just some misogynistic comments Mother, of which I have aged out of making," Anthony said the last part looking at Kate and imploring her to look up at him but she never did so he continued "There was also a racial aspect to their comments,"

Anthony could feel Kate stiffen beside him and he held his breath. There was silence in the room but just when it felt like Anthony would scream just so someone would say something Kate stood up and said "Good then. It's sorted,"

"I'm sorry. What do you mean it's sorted? Anthony has to apologise to the guests and to the gentleman he hurt," Violet said looking at Kate confused.

"Look Violet, Anthony can make the rounds on his way to apologise for causing a commotion but he does not owe a racist misogynist any apology," Kate said.

"Kate, I know you don't know how these things work but in our society, it's very important that a level of politeness and manners are maintained," Violet said.

"So he gets to make racist comments about his friend's girlfriend but when said friend stands up for his girlfriend, the friend is the one deemed the ill-mannered and rude one?" Kate asked using her solicitor's voice, normally Anthony would be turned on by it but now he felt his mother might not be able to stand against Kate and he was nervous "Violet we are all in the same society just because you choose to interact with only certain members of it does not mean that we are not meant to be held to the same standard. Just like with Mayfair Girls,"

Violet scoffed "This isn't a high school. This is real life and this is just how things are done,"

"Maybe that's the problem," Kate remarked.

"That's enough," Anthony finally said and stood up "Simon, I know you hate these types of things but if you could please find my secretary Freddy and get the numbers for the benefit and give them to Benedict so he can announce them," Simon nodded and left the room "Mother don't worry I will send an apology to Conrad Pemberton and make sure that I will cover any medical and dry cleaning expenses," His mother looked satisfied "Kate, I think we should make a quiet exit out of the back the entrance," He went to grab her hand but she looked at him funny and walked to the door.

Anthony sighed and followed her but before he made it to the open door, his mother spoke "Anthony, I will make sure Freddy gets your jackets and gets the car to come around for you," Anthony nodded his head at his mother and went to follow Kate.

The car ride back to his home was silent but if Anthony was honest, it was a silence he needed. He was busy writing emails and texts. As much as it pained him he had written apologies to Pemberton as well as the board and planners of the benefit for any disruptions and made promises to make it up to them and behave better in the future. It was generic and so insincere but he knew it had to be done.

When they finally got back to his place, Kate got out of the car before Robert could come around to open it and Anthony jumped out to follow her in. Kate's long legs carried her into his place and when he entered a while after her she was already out of her dress and packing her things.

Anthony asked, "Babe, what are you doing?"

"Don't babe me Anthony. Not after tonight," Kate said and she continued to aggressively pack things into her bag.

"I understand why you are mad," Anthony said, he knew the idea of being associated with someone like Fife and Pemberton might decrease her level of respect for him but he hoped she had known him better by now.

"I don't think you do, but humour me. Tell me why you think I am mad at you," Kate said turning to him and folding her arms.

Anthony sighed "Look what Fife and Pemberton were saying tonight is not actually what I think or a reflection of who I am. I barely see those guys I wouldn't even call them friends,"

Kate scoffed "Anthony, let's just say I was able to get over you ordering me about. What about me makes you think I would be okay with you apologising to a racist?"

Anthony sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache was forming "Kate, you don't understand,"

"Actually, I think I understand better than you. It wasn't racist comments made about you or your family so it's fine then?"

"I didn't say it was fine but I should not have lost my temper," Anthony exclaimed. Why did she not understand?

"You lost your temper because you care for me and I hoped that you cared about shutting down racists!"

"I do care!"

"Then why did you spend so much effort and time sending apologies to those racists after the fact?"

"It's important to maintain a level of politeness with important people in society," Anthony said a bit more level-headed.

"More important than defending me and people that look like me?" Kate asked and Anthony noted the tears in her eyes. He tried to approach her but she took a step back "Standing up to your enemies is easy but it takes greater courage to stand up to your friends. Before you sent off your little apologetic emails, everyone at the benefit would have known where you stood on racism, where you stood on us,"

Anthony felt like things were spiralling and he was struggling to keep up, Kate looked hurt and it hurt him "Kate I am against racism. I did stand up for us,"

"For 30 minutes, then you were apologising as if a person being a racist is a minor inconvenience and not something morally wrong,"

Anthony was panicking now, Kate sounded so sad then "It's not like hitting him was going to change the world,"

"But it would have changed my world, Anthony. I'm not a fool I see how people look at us sometimes but at least I thought I was in this with someone who had my back, that we were a team... And now, I just need time to think about what we are as a couple,"

Anthony could barely breathe but as Kate continued packing Anthony went to stop her hands "Kate, please stop. Just wait a minute here. I'm still the same guy, the man who loves you. What can I do to make this right?" The question he asked came out with a broken voice that even he could hear.

"It's alright Anthony, I think I just need time to resolve the kind of guy you are with the one I had in my head," She was full-blown crying now and Anthony sniffed his tears away.

"Okay okay. I will give you some space just... Please know that I do love you, and that... I'm sorry," Anthony said in a small voice.

Kate had her back turned to him and all he could see was her nodding her head as she continued to pack.

Kate called her mother, Mary, to tell her she would be coming home, so she called an Uber. Anthony tried to change her mind but then she told him her mother wanted to track her trip considering the time of night. They sat in silence for 5 minutes waiting for the Uber and Anthony could not stop taking glances at Kate. Her tears eventually dried and she looked resolute and then she was gone out of his home.

The minute Anthony turned around after seeing Kate to her Uber, he looked at his empty apartment and felt hollow. Anthony was used to apologising to keep the peace whether that was at work, with his mother, his siblings or with women. This was the first time keeping the peace seemed foolish.

"Edwina would you give me back my shoe, I'm gonna be late to meet Anthony," Kate shouted at her sister's door while knocking on it.

Even though it was muffled Kate heard her sister yell on the other side of the door "No! Anthony is a dickhead! I don't want you to go to lunch with him and forgive him!"

"Edwina language!" Mary shouted from the living room.

"It's true mama! He let his friends say horrible things about Kate and all Indian women,"

"Edwina you need to stop eavesdropping on the conversations Kate and I are having," Mary said walking into the hallway until she stood side-by-side with Kate.

"Bon, he didn't let anyone say anything he beat him up remember?" Kate said, feeling the need to defend Anthony. It was important to keep her emotions focused on the things he did and not contort the past with negative emotions.

"Yeah, but he apologised to that racist ars- egghead. Relationships should not be so hard," Edwina said.

Kate sighed, she did not want to disillusion her sister "Bon, life is not like those romance books you read, they are hard and require understanding from both sides,"

Mary sighed "Your sister is right, my love. If I steered clear of hard relationships I would not have married your father and had 19 years of wedded bliss,"

Edwina unlocked her door and opened it slightly "I guess you're right," she handed Kate her shoe but before Kate could thank her the doorbell rang.

Edwina immediately sprinted to the front of the house, Kate tried to run after her but one of her shoes was not put on right so she had to stop.

By the time Kate and Mary got to the front door, Anthony was bouncing while holding his foot, like he was in pain. "Edwina, what did you do?" Kate asked.

"Why do you assume I did anything? Did I hurt you, Anthony?" Edwina asked with a fake sweet voice.

"No, and even if she did it's not like I didn't deserve it," Anthony said standing properly.

"As long as we are on the same page," Edwina said as she walked back to her room.

Mary sighed and followed her "I'm sorry Anthony. I'll talk to her," she said before she left.

Kate turned to Anthony and for the first time noticed the flowers in his hands "Are those for me?"

Anthony jumped and handed her the flowers "Yes, although I feel I should have brought some for your sister and your mother," he looked self-conscious for a moment.

Kate took the flowers and sniffed them before making to leave "It's good that you didn't. Edwina is allergic. I usually keep flowers in my room. At first, it was cause it reminded me of India but then it was to keep Edwina out of my room and now it just makes me feel better to see and smell them,"

"You never told me that," he said as they made their way down the stairs.

"It's not a big deal," Kate said as she shrugged. She was feeling nervous as this was the first time she had been alone with Anthony since their fight.

Kate had been a bit withdrawn when she got back from the benefit, Mary knew not to ask questions when she got back and just helped her change and go to sleep. It wasn't until she had gotten angry at Edwina unnecessarily that Mary sat her down to talk. She cried as Mary held her and they spoke about that night and about racism. Mary knew better than anyone what people thought about mixed-race couples as she was the offspring of one but Mary said she felt like Anthony was special. Mary told Kate it was more important that his first instinct was to defend Kate. It might seem like he went back on it later but societal pressure is immense and it can even make it so that the best of people make bad decisions. Mary made Kate giggle when she said Kate came out of the womb with a backbone of steel but others are not as lucky and that it is always important to lead with understanding and grace especially when the other person is trying.

6 days later Kate was still working on it but she finally texted Anthony back.

As they made their way to the pathway, Kate turned to walk down the street but Anthony looked like he wanted to get to his car. "Oh, I thought we could get a quick coffee at this cafe nearby. It's usually quiet around this time, so I thought we could talk," Kate said.

Anthony looked hesitant "Oh sure,"

"Unless you already had a place in mind," Kate said nervously.

"No, we can go to the cafe. I want you to be comfortable," Anthony said.

Kate nodded and she led him to the cafe.

Kate was right the place was quiet, mostly because the owners: The Gunningworths were not the most friendly people. Richard Gunningworth was a renowned lawyer who had 3 daughters. The only biological daughter he had was Sophie, a friend of Kate's. When Kate spoke to Sophie about finding neutral ground for her and Anthony to talk Sophie suggested they meet when Sophie was working her shift.

Kate and Anthony spoke. It was stilted at first but when Anthony blurted out that he did not want to break up, Kate was taken aback.

"Anthony I'm not going to break up with you," Anthony nodded and Kate could see his body visibly relax and she felt guilty. Communication with her partners was not something she was great at but she hoped she would be better because she loved Anthony more than any other man she had been with. Kate took his hands and said "I just wanted to discuss why I was so hurt that night," Anthony nodded and she continued "I've spent the last 10 years of my life fighting for a better society for people like me and other minorities. It's not an easy job and even though I know I'm morally and ethically in the right people still treat me like I'm a pariah. Like I'm the bad guy for trying to make the world fair... Even you did at first," Kate put her hand up to stop him before he spoke "I'm not trying to take a shot at you, I'm just trying to be honest. Being right is a lonely place and I have often hidden behind the fact that despite being alone I was right but it doesn't keep you warm at night,"

"You have me. You are not alone. I can keep you warm," Anthony said softly.

Kate smiled even though she was a bit emotional "I want to know that. I want to believe it with every bone in my body but I'm just not sure. You have a set of rules you live your life by and I don't think it's always going to align with the way I live mine but I'm willing to compromise some,"

Anthony's eyes widened "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Just that even though you did apologise to your friends-"

"They are not my friends," Anthony interjected almost growling "Sorry,"

Kate sighed and continued "Even though you did apologise to those guys after defending me, I have to give you grace because your first instinct was to defend me. I just hope it was not just because I was your girlfriend but because what they said was just wrong,"

Anthony sighed and looked down "Kate... I don't- I don't know. I wish I could say it was but I'm not sure... I'm sorry,"

"It's okay. There is no way of knowing anyway. I love you and as long as your first instincts are to protect me then I can't be that mad, can I?"

"I don't want you to feel like you are giving up being a good person to be with me. Not when your strength of character is one of the main reasons I love you in the first place," Anthony said squeezing her hands.

"I know. I'm not. I am just going to adjust to the way things are done in your world," Kate said squeezing his hands back and Anthony nodded.

Anthony smiled "How did you get so well adjusted?"

"My parents and a good therapist. I can recommend one if you like not the one I see but someone who would be next on the list if I ever break up with my current one. Therapy does wonders," Kate suggested.

"I think I'm going to take you up on that offer. I think it will be good for us," Anthony said.

"It will be good for you, and that's what is important," Kate said smiling.

It wasn't this big declaration of extreme devotion and love that most people would expect from romantic comedies but Kate loved Anthony and she was happy to adjust certain aspects of her thoughts and reactions especially because Anthony was always changing for and because of her. In relationships, it was important to meet halfway and Kate was happily back with Anthony so what was the big deal? He was going to go to therapy and work on himself and in the meantime, Kate would give him grace.

---

For the last month and a half, things between Kate and Anthony returned to relative normalcy. Kate had noticed she was still not invited to brunch with Anthony's family but she tried not to take too much offence considering Anthony wanted her there but his mother was in charge of organising it every month. That being said every time she would bump into one of his siblings and they asked her why he did not attend or what she missed out on, she wondered if her and Anthony's relationship was seen as a serious thing to his mother, yet.

Before Kate could bring it up though, Anthony invited her to an event held by his grandmother, his mother's mother, Dowager Lady Ledger. This was a big deal because every one of the Bridgertons and Ledgers was going to be there and Kate would finally meet all of Anthony's family.

It was only fair, right? Anthony had met all of Kate's family. All 2 of them. Kat often thought about what her father would think of Anthony, would he see him as a random rich guy or would he see the caring guy underneath? Kate tried not to get too deep in her What Ifs because they just made her sad.

Kate smoothed down her dress. It was an afternoon event but Kate was still nervous. Luckily Daphne was available for shopping since she had to take a reluctant Eloise, so she tagged along and got herself a very nice dress. A very expensive dress but Daphne said that Anthony was fitting the bill, which did not sit well with her Kate knew there was no way she could borrow a dress like she did at the last big event especially when it was so important she made a good impression.

So Kate settled on a colour-blocking Versace almost-mini dress. She looked great but also daring. The colours suited her skin tone and showed off her best asset: her legs.

Kate knew Anthony was nervous about this event. She hoped they could avoid drama but she knew that could not control everything. Even when Kate left home, Mary looked on edge.

Kate smoothed her dress while she sat at the back of the car, driven by Robert.

Anthony grabbed her hand and said "The dress looks stunning. You look stunning. Don't worry,"

"Sorry. It's just that today is an important day," Kate said looking at him.

"It's just a party like any other babe," he said.

Kate tried to calm down but before she could reply, Robert informed them that they had arrived.

Getting into the event was relatively more smooth and casual than the benefit and Kate quickly found a group of women to talk to. Some of them were rich and/or titled but the two that Kate bonded with were a doctor and a florist. Jennifer and Rebecca were married and partnered respectively with Fife and another guy named Michael Stirling. Rebecca was by far the youngest and she looked incredibly uncomfortable whereas Jennifer who despite having a similar background to Kate fit in because she was well-respected as a doctor.

Kate spent a lot of time talking with the two women and when Jennifer went off to use the loo, Jennifer leaned in and said "She's not gonna last,"

Kate who was sipping her drink at the time almost choked and asked "Why do you say that? I mean I know they are young but they look cute,"

"They are always cute but Michael does not stay with them for long," Jennifer said.

"Oh that's a shame," Kate said.

"Not really, she does not exactly know what she is getting herself into with these kinds of people," Jennifer said and Kate hummed her agreement. There was a lot of money and prestige flying around the room and even though Kate was not a part of it she had years of experience holding her own around people like this "You look like you got the memo though,"

Kate looked at Jennifer surprised and chuckled "I mean I guess. I don't have to do much,"

"Yeah, but that's good. At the benefit, you were wind up tight and Anthony was the same. Hence all the unpleasantness," Jennifer said casually.

Kate was confused by the remark. She was not sure what she knew "As long as people keep their racism to themselves I'm sure we will all be fine,"

"I mean to be fair my husband and Conrad were complimenting you,"

Kate's blood ran cold "Excuse me?"

"Look I've been there myself when I first married my husband but I realised that you have got to let them be themselves and do what they want so your relationship can be strong,"

Kate stood up and made her face stoic "Just because you are okay with being disrespected by your husband and his mates does not mean that is something I am okay with,"

"You say that as if they are not Anthony's mates as well. My husband, Conrad and Anthony go back years. It only makes sense that they would make up over a little disagreement," Jennifer said smiling and Kate could finally see how arrogant it looked, it leaned more into a sneer.

"Anthony being forced to make civilities with them does not mean he condones their behaviour," Kate said straightening her back to defend her boyfriend.

"My dear, I guess Rebecca is not the only one who is unaware. Anthony did not seem to have issues with My husband or Conrad at last week's polo match or a month ago at the Smythe-Smith musicale," Jennifer took out her phone and showed Kate pictures of the group of men smiling and laughing and Kate's stomach churned.

Kate walked away briskly until she made it to the loo and threw up the contents of her stomach, which unfortunately because food had not been served yet, was not much.

Kate cleaned herself up and looked at herself in the mirror. Anthony had lied to her? Well he had not lied, he merely omitted what he had done. What did it matter anyways Kate, knew Anthony had to make amends with those arses, she just did not know Anthony was having such a good time doing so. She felt like she had been sucker punched. She felt foolish and mostly sad, Anthony had to keep a part of his life from her maybe because he was ashamed but maybe because he did not want to be judged by her. She tried to find the grace she promised to give to him and was resolute to bring it up to him at a later date. Today was about impressing the Bridgertons and the Ledgers so she focused on that.

Kate spent the rest of the night schmoozing and putting on her best personality traits. Eventually, the woman of the hour showed up: Dowager Lady Ledger. Kate could not help but note how she looked old but not frail, stern and a little unfriendly. Kate wondered if it was wrong of her to notice the fact that her smile mirrored a lot of the women in the room: insincere.

Anthony introduced Kate to his grandmother and she remarked "Wow, you are beautiful,"

Kate smiled "Thank you. Of course, the only beauty people have their eyes on today is you,"

"Well thank you for flattering an old lady like myself, dear," she said.

"Is it flattery when it's the truth?" Anthony said and all the women laughed.

Lady Ledger took her hand and put it on his face "What a handsome charmer,"

"Thank you, grandmother," Anthony said "I love you,"

Lady Ledger smiled sweetly and was escorted around the rest of the room by Anthony's mother and brother, Colin.

Kate felt like she could take a breath "That went well didn't it?" Anthony said.

"Yeah, I'm glad she at least thinks I'm pretty," Kate said.

"Babe, you are the most beautiful woman ever. Now I would never say that to her because I fear her but you know that," Anthony said as he kissed the side of her head and Kate felt giddy.

All of a sudden the idea of what had happened with Jennifer earlier seemed like a dream and what she had with Anthony was the reality she needed to focus on.

Later as the party winded down and the little sun they had gotten dwindled to dark greys, Kate was happily dancing with Benedict when Anthony cut in.

"Are you having a good time?" Anthony asked as they swayed together to the music.

"Surprisingly, yes. Your siblings are hilarious and I like them," Kate said laying her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you," Anthony said.

"For what?" Kate asked.

"For accepting all of this. My family. Me. I know it's not exactly the best example of how to use wealth but it's important to me to maintain our family's name. I hope it's not too much,"

"Anthony, of course. I love you. The rest is just noise," Kate said.

Anthony kissed Kate softly. She could hear some camera's going off but she didn't care for once.

It was then that Violet tapped Anthony on the shoulder "Can the both of you come with me?" she asked and Kate felt dread.

#the crazy rich viscount who loved me

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thewul · 6 months

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Michael Woodstone

I laid on my hospital bed, but well cared for overall, dysentery could be lethal if not treated, I was being treated, until one morning they announced a visitor from the U.S embassy What is it Doctor Pawn? A death wish? What are you trying to prove? Something needs to be done for those people Indeed Doctor Pawn, but the reality of Sierra Leone and of the slums of Freetown is what it is, has been since I arrived here, the country is poor, the government doesn't have the resources to address those issues or when they do the people don't want to move from there because it's all they can afford, people keep pouring in those slums pursuing opportunity in the city Can I use your phone? Did you hear what I just said? Yes, can I use your phone? Go ahead

Michael Woodstone hello? Hello there Mike Howdy Matt! Long time no see how is everyone doing? Last time I checked everyone was fine Great! So what is going on with you, still travelling? I am in Freetown right now Freetown? You mean Sierra Leone? Right, tell me Mike, I do have some stocks in the company don't I Of course you do, do you want to cash your dividends or? Not exactly, and you're in contact with chemicals companies aren't you? Quite a few! We're in the oil business! Ok, I need to you to convert my dividends into tons of chlorine tablets and have them sent here, is it doable? Everything is doable, chlorine tablets you said, you mean for water purification? Right Well they certainly have that as well How many tons do you think? Give me a sec, you have… Right 150,000 Dollars that you haven't cashed yet, at the rate of chlorine per ton, tablets should be more expensive but I can cut you a deal, I'd say 150 tons plus the shipping, so probably 120 tons shipping included Excellent Mike, you're the best Anything else you need? Yes tell my old man I said hi Will do, can I reach you on this number?

Is it ok with you? The embassy suit nodded his agreement with a slight smile, I knew what he thought in the back of his mind, that it is always the wealthy types that end in such situations

Yes please, as soon as the shipment is sent so we can arrange things here No problem, stay safe! Thanks again Mike

I remembered what I said about the losing fight, but those chlorine tablets could save lives, and each life that was saved was defeating defeat itself

In the heart of darkness as Conrad has it, but what do you do to the heart of darkness you tear it away by plunging both your hands in the thick of it or you go home, there's no in between, no fractions

#HUGO BOSS #dream chaser

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wise-journey · 10 months

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The Magic of Kabala, Sierra Leone: A Comprehensive Guide

Title: Kabala, an enchanting gem cradled in the heart of Sierra Leone, is a city teeming with captivating narratives, lush landscapes, vibrant cultures, and a charisma uniquely its own. Tucked away amid the resplendent mountains of West Africa, this charming city radiates with a welcoming energy and mystical allure guaranteed to captivate the spirit of any intrepid adventurer.

Best Time to Visit

The sheer magic of Kabala sparkles brightest during the dry season, which spans from November to April. The pleasantly temperate climate during these months facilitates unhindered exploration, allowing the treasures of this majestic town to unfurl their full glory sans the draping rain.

The Journey to Kabala

The voyage to Kabala encapsulates an adventure in itself. If you're embarking from Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, a thrilling 4-hour car drive awaits you, where each moment promises breath-taking visuals of verdant landscapes, flourishing wildlife, and picturesque towns. Alternatively, a scenic flight to this mountain city will provide panoramic views that will etch in your memory.

Accommodations

Kabala offers a host of accommodations to cater to every traveller's needs and preferences. From opulent guesthouses fitted with modern amenities to local homestays providing a true taste of Kabala's hospitality, you're sure to find a home away from home here.

Things to Do

Crafted by nature's deft hands, Kabala, nestled in the heart of the mountains, offers exhilarating trekking trails. The renowned Wara Mountain and Gbawuria Hill serve an unforgettable cocktail of adrenaline and tranquillity with the promise of an unmatchable panorama from their summits.

Gastronomy Guide

Indulge in the delightful dance of flavors that is Kabala's gastronomic scene. The local eateries, known for their traditional West African dishes, serve everything from the fragrant Jollof rice to the spicy Pepper Soup. Each meal promises a culinary journey through the heart of West Africa.

Sightseeing Tours

Kabala has something in store for everyone. History enthusiasts can delve into the past at the Yaagala Secret Society Shrine, while nature lovers can lose themselves in the city's abundant greenery. There's also the enthralling legend of the Sacred Stone waiting to be discovered, making Kabala a city where curiosity never sleeps.

Money Matters

The official currency in Kabala is the Sierra Leonean leone (SLL). Keep ample cash at hand as card transactions may not be widely accepted, especially in rural areas. Always ensure you exchange currency at authorized money changers.

Nightlife

When the sun sinks below the horizon, Kabala's vibrant nightlife bursts onto the scene. From bonfire parties under a star-filled sky to local music that pulsates with life, the city knows how to celebrate the night in style. Don't miss out on the local beer as you sway to the contagious beats of Sierra Leonean music.

Getting Around

Take note that motorbikes, locally known as 'Okadas', are the primary mode of transportation within Kabala. However, for those who prefer a more private and comfortable means of commuting, car rentals are an available option.

Shopping

In Kabala, tiny shops and bustling markets are treasure troves of vibrant African fabrics, intricate handmade crafts, and locally-sourced spices. Take a piece of Kabala back with you, and keep the city close to your heart long after your journey ends. An expedition to Kabala is an immersion into the soul of an authentic African city. It's a sublime montage of unforgettable experiences, where each fragment tells a unique story, waiting to be celebrated and remembered. Travelers who venture to Kabala will carry its essence within them, forever bound by the spell of this enchanting city. Read the full article

#africa #Kabala #SierraLeone

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giftsforus · 1 year

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Ebola is real’: Uganda to trial vaccines and shut schools early to contain outbreak

Mubende, UgandaCNN —

Joseph Singiringabo has lost almost everything and everyone he held dear to Ebola. In a few short weeks, the 78-year-old lost his wife, his son, and a newborn granddaughter to the disease.

He is left taking care of three grandchildren under 13 after their mother fled the village to escape the danger of Ebola. His livestock was stolen while he was away in the required 21-day quarantine, leaving him destitute and desperate.

As Ebola outbreak grows in Uganda, US ramps up preparedness plans

“ I don’t know where they got the virus from because I went and got checked and I left the hospital without any problem with these children of mine,” he said, sitting on a log outside his modest house in Madudu, in Uganda’s central Mubende district.

“The problem I am facing now is getting food. Secondly, I never went to school, but I want these grandchildren to continue and get educated.”

A deadly outbreak

Uganda is grappling with its deadliest Ebola outbreak in more than a decade, first detected in the Mubende district in late September.

The deadly disease has ravaged families, leaving authorities scrambling to control its spread.

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The 2012 Ebola outbreak in the Kibaale district in the country’s western region, led to 17 deaths out of 24 confirmed cases but was declared over in less than 3 months.

Officials have launched aggressive contact tracing to track down relatives and friends who handled the bodies of first victims or attended funerals.

Some escaped from quarantine facilities, others traveled as far as the capital Kampala, and a few visited traditional healers and witchdoctors for treatment instead.

“Some of the patients are still hiding and they don’t know that they have Ebola so they’re out there in the community,” public health physician Dr. Jackson Amone told CNN.

An Ebola treatment unit in Mubende, Uganda.Larry Madowo/CNN

He has been involved in every Ebola outbreak in Uganda as well as in Sierra Leone in 2017. “We need to do case investigation, a lot of contact tracing, and community engagement so that those who present with Ebola symptoms are brought for testing before we release them.”

Dr. Amone is leading the teams operating the Ebola Treatment Units in Mubende. The first was set up in a hurry on the edge of the Mubende Regional Referral Hospital.

Uganda announces lockdown as Ebola cases rise

A larger center operated by the medical non-profit Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is expanding with new ICU beds on the other side of town.

Health workers don extensive Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to enter the red zones where patients are receiving treatment.

In one zone, a health worker cradles a three-month-old baby suspected of having been infected. Her mother and another sibling are undergoing treatment for Ebola and the disease has already claimed the life of her father.

It’s a cruel welcome to the world for the infant who is wrapped in a blanket as steady rain falls on the makeshift treatment center.

It’s a familiar story across this region as Ebola spreads despite the Ugandan government’s best efforts.

“This Ebola is much easier to deal with than either corona(virus) or AIDS. The main problem here is behavior change,” President Yoweri Museveni told the nation in a Tuesday nightaddress, stressing the need to follow the government’s procedures for those who come into contact with the disease.

Vaccine trials offer hope

Ebola can spread from person to person through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids such as saliva, sweat, semen, or feces, or through contaminated objects like bedding or needles.

“It doesn’t spread through the air like COVID-19 and does not hide for some months before it shows itself like AIDS,” Museveni said in his televised address.

The country had so far recorded 55 deaths from Ebola, 141 confirmed cases and 73 people had recovered, he said.

Health minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero told CNN she expects Uganda to have the outbreak under control by April if communities cooperate with the government.

Health workers don extensive Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to enter the red zones where patients are receiving treatmentLarry Madowo/CNN

There are currently two licensed Ebola vaccines,according to the World Health Organization, but they were developed to be safe and protective against the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus.

Unlike the previous Zaire ebolavirus, the Sudan strain currently circulating in Uganda has no known effective treatment or approved vaccine. However, the country is about to roll out three trial vaccines that have been certified as safe by the World Health Organization (WHO) working group.

The WHO said the first doses would beshipped to Uganda next weekand the country expects to expand the vaccine trials after reviewing results from the initial phase.

They are manufactured by the International Aids Vaccine Iniative (IAVI), the Sabin Vaccine Institute USA and a third developed by the University of Oxford and the Jenner Institute UK.

“Our further testing is about efficacy, and how long it protects. We are looking at 3,000 contacts of confirmed cases so we’ll be doing ring vaccination,” Aceng Ocero said, referring to a vaccine process that administers vaccines only to people in close contact with infected patients.

“If we have a confirmed case, then the contacts are the ones who are given the vaccine and they are followed up for 29 days because we want to see if they can quickly generate antibodies and can protect themselves from getting into full-blown disease,” Aceng Ocero added.

Obstacles of tradition and religion

Public health officials believe that cases are stabilizing due to increased vigilance, but tradition and religion are holding back progress. One community in Kassanda district, central Uganda, exhumed a body that had been buried safely by health workers to perform religious rites.

It led to “an explosion of over 41 cases within 5 days and 10 deaths,” President Museveni said in his address. He has now barred traditional healers and witchdoctors from taking clients during the Ebola outbreak.

Infections are also rising as it is hard to keep people apart in close-knit communal settings. Robert Twinamasiko, a 30-year-old driver is undergoing treatment after he helped an infected friend to an ambulance. The friend and one other person involved both died.

A 30-year-old driver, Robert Twinamasiko receives treatment for Ebola after helping an infected friend to an ambulance.Larry Madowo/CNN

Twinamasiko has spent 17 days in hospital but says he has no regrets. Although he looked frail, he was making a recovery and told CNN he was looking forward to going home.

“I’m just waiting for my blood work to be discharged but the world out there should know that Ebola is real,” he said from inside a red zone.

Uganda is also trying to contain the spread of the disease by closing the school term early to avoid an outbreak of Ebola in schools which could be hard to manage. “If you have one learner in a class testing positive, the entire class has to undergo quarantine. But also, you will not be 100% sure that that learner did not have contact with other learners outside that class,” Minister Aceng Ocero explained.

She said she was frustrated that Uganda wasn’t getting enough credit internationally for managing the Ebola crisis. “We have experience. This is our eighth Ebola outbreak. Every time we get an outbreak, our experience increases,” she said.

Some global health experts have criticized Uganda’s initial response to the outbreakas slow and inept. Some partners in the donor and diplomatic community have also bristled about how much information Ugandan authorities are sharing with them.

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patientsafetyday · 3 years

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Framework for Action - The 7x5 Matrix.

Few large organizations in any sector across the world operate effectively without a clear, simple set of objectives that govern strategic and operational activities and areunderstood and owned by all staff. Establishing these at high-level for a system helps to focus all existing policies and activities of the health care system towards a common purpose. If few in number, and appropriately formulated, they can enable progress to be reviewed at strategic level and also at the level of the clinical team. The objectives should not create an extra burden, nor replace existing measures of performance within countries, nor in their systems and facilities. Instead, they should serve to unify the work of the leadership, the endeavours of managers and the care of doctors, nurses and other health workers. They should provide a test of everything from everyday clinical work to big strategic decisions about the design of health care systems. They should also provide a simple public accountability framework. That is the purpose of the seven strategic objectives this framework provides for the global action plan. They are broad enough to make sense of the myriad of tasks required to reduce the risks and to improve the safety of patient care in every part of the world. They are articulated so that it is entirely permissible within their scope to formulate programmes of action that fit with local needs and priorities and that are shaped by the specific context. They do this precisely because they are intended to empower and not to constrain. So, for example, Objective 2 has meaning whether “high reliability” is being developed in a teaching hospital in Western Europe or in a rural health centre in a poor country in West Africa. Each will be aiming to do the very best they possibly can within their operating context and resource availability. In turn, Objective 3, which deals with the important area of designing and operating safe care processes and pathways, is equally applicable to a high technology maternity service in a large Canadian city as it is to a service in a remote part of Sierra Leone trying to reduce maternal deaths from post-partum haemorrhage.

The strategic objectives are also intended to be easily understood and envisioned, readily communicated, and have an uplifting and inspiring tone as well as being few enough in number not to prove daunting and to cause implementation overload. The framework of action is further elucidated through 35 strategies, five under each of the strategic objectives, to create a seven by five matrix. Each strategy has been further elaborated into suggested actions for four sets of partners: governments, health care facilities and services, stakeholders and the WHO Secretariat.

#health workers #policy-makers #stakeholders #patient safety #Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030 #health care facilities #Governments

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govolunteerafrica · 2 years

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Affordable Low Cost Volunteer Opportunities in Africa

Welcome to Africa! Volunteer abroad in Africa with Go Volunteer Africa. Go Volunteer Africa is the leading and largest volunteer travel organization on the African continent!

Go Volunteer Africa is an award-winning volunteer travel operator. Go Volunteer Africa provides sustainable and ethical volunteer projects, and exciting adventure holidays in Africa. Go Volunteer Africa is number one provider of affordable low cost and meaningful budget friendly volunteer travel programs in Africa.

At Go Volunteer Africa, we make volunteering simple, possible, cost-effective, safe and sustainable for people who travel to do good. Go Volunteer Africa was ranked as the best volunteer organization in Africa.

Volunteer Work in Africa

There are volunteer work placements available all across Africa. Our volunteer opportunities in Africa include but not limited to:

CAREGIVING: Orphanage Work, Caring for AIDS Orphans, Working with Street Children, Caring for the Elderly and Caring for the Disabled

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: Developing Business Plans, Developing Library Facilities, Women’s Empowerment and Sharing Your Skills

HEALTHCARE: Medical Placement, Assisting Health Professionals, Helping in a Rural Health Post, Medical electives and Dental electives

HIV/AIDS WORK: HIV/AIDS Testing, HIV/AIDS Counselling, Awareness Campaigns, Caring for the HIV Infected and Conducting HIV lessons

TEACHING: Teaching Children, Tutoring Help, Teaching English or Computer Skills, Teaching Arts, Music/Dance, Sports Education and Special Education

OTHERS: Micro-Finance Projects, Business Coaching, Environmental Work, Wildlife or Animal Work, Journalism or Photography Work, Construction Work, Agriculture Work and Tourism Work

Budget Friendly Volunteer Trips to Africa

Go Volunteer Africa combines community service, cultural exchange, language immersion, and adventure- which creates an unforgettable experience, friends for a lifetime, lessons in leadership, and impactful change!

Go Volunteer Africa is a social enterprise that provides responsible and experiential travel through volunteer travel programs. Our volunteer opportunities are for those who want personalized and our well-serviced volunteering programs in developing communities in Africa.

We specialize in Africa volunteering travel, because this is where we have deep roots and the most ground expertise, local knowledge and professional networks to provide truly authentic volunteering programs that serve the needs of our communities, while delivering incredibly gratifying experiences for our volunteers.

All of our programs be it teaching children, empowering women, renovating schools, supporting refugees, sports coaching or volunteering in a local hospital or marine and wildlife conservation, are handpicked to meet this dual objective.

START & END DATES: Flexible Dates All Year Round

PROGRAMS SUITABLE FOR: Solo Travelers, Family, Students, Seniors & Groups

DURATION: We do have a minimum stay requirement of 2 weeks. No Maximum duration limit.

APPLICATION PROCESS: The application process is not complicated and volunteers do not need to apply far in advance. Go Volunteer Africa gives you all the support you’ll need to take the hassle out of arranging your volunteer work adventure in Africa.

Fill Volunteer Application Now: http://govolunteerafrica.org/volunteer-application-form/

OUR MOST POPULAR DESTINATONS: Rwanda, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Ghana, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Morocco, Madagascar, Ethiopia. Please note: We run volunteer programs all across Africa.

VOLUNTEER ACCOMMODATION: Volunteers are provided accommodation in a volunteer house or in a homestay accommodation managed by the local coordinating team. The accommodations are neat and clean. Accommodation is shared amongst volunteers on the ‘same gender sharing’ basis rooms. Wi-Fi internet, warm water is not guaranteed.

MEALS: Three meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) are provided to the participants from Monday – Sunday.

#Go Volunteer Africa Volunteer Abroad Volunteer in Africa Volunteer Opportunities in Africa volunteering in Africa NGO Looking for Volunteers

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emakegr · 2 years

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2022 Tech Lead Development Program - Autodesk Foundation

https://emake.gr/wp-content/uploads/2022-Tech-Lead-Development-Program-Autodesk-Foundation.jpg

Autodesk empowers innovators everywhere with technology to achieve the new possible and advance a better world designed and made for all. Autodesk Foundation’s first Tech Lead Development Program (TLDP) was built based on feedback from our portfolio organizations. The programming is designed to facilitate learning for the most in-demand nontechnical skills of the future—enabling the workforce of today and tomorrow to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world.

This six-month development program builds from the foundation’s work and prosperity principles by supporting technical leaders across the Autodesk Foundation Portfolio with interactive trainings, mentorship opportunities, and open career discussions. By investing in the development of impact-driven technical experts, the TLDP will optimize the impact of the technical leads within each of the portfolio’s respective organizations, equipping them to drive projects and initiatives as innovators. The cohort-based learning model reinforces a community of practice that spans across industries and regions, strengthening future opportunities for cross-industry impact innovations.

We are proud to welcome the 2022 cohort, nominated and recognized as emerging leaders across Autodesk industries leveraging technology to solve for innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges – climate change and social inequity:

Karly Butcher, Production Maintenance Technician, Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC)

Karly joined Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC) in 2020, bringing her passion for mechanics and educating others to ISAIC as an Operations Specialist. She has since grown to ISAIC’s Production Maintenance Technician, responsible for maintaining all machines and equipment as well as managing the 5S Lean Manufacturing Team. Karly is a dedicated leader, co-chairing ISAIC’s employee-led Creative Better Best Practices Committee as well as its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

Francisco Colom, Senior Architect, MASS Design Group

Francisco Colom is an architect who has practiced in Spain, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. He is currently a Senior Architect at MASS Design Group. Francisco holds an M.S. in design studies with Distinction from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and a B.S. and M.S. of architecture with Highest Distinction from the University of Alicante, where he was appointed as Honorary Professor of the Department of Architectural Design. Francisco is the recipient of the Fundacion La Caixa Fellowship for Postgraduate Studies, the European Union Tempo Project Scholarship, the Harvard Eduard Sekler Fellowship, and the Harvard GSD Community Service Fellowship. His work has been exhibited at the 15th and 16th Venice Architecture Biennale.

Allison Denisky, Senior Architectural Designer, Build Health International (BHI)

Allison Denisky is the Senior Architectural Designer at Build Health International (BHI). She has led the architecture team in developing designs for a maternal hospital in rural Sierra Leone and worked on several master plans for hospitals across Haiti and Africa. Her early work brought her to Haiti where she helped develop strategic community plans and participated in the designing of an academic center in Port-au-Prince. Today, Allison works closely with partner organizations to advance BHI’s BIM workflow and develop case studies showcasing how the design team optimizes occupant comfort and energy usage with passive design strategies.

Adriana Duque, Project Coordinator, Build Change

Adriana Duque is an Engineer and Project Coordinator for Build Change’s Colombia programming. Adriana began her journey as a Technologist in civil constructions at Distrital Francisco José de Caldas University from which she transitioned to a graduate program in civil engineering. Adriana works with Build Change stakeholders by providing technical assistance and project oversight for the retrofitting of informal housing. Adriana has received various recognitions for her work, most recently “The Build Change Honorable and Outstanding Merit of Excellence Award.”

Ana Fernandez Martinez, Senior Architect, MASS Design Group

Ana Fernández is a Senior Architect at the MASS Design Group office in Boston, where she is responsible for a full range of architectural design and management tasks from schematic design through construction administration to community engagement. With a design background, Ana is motivated to work in vulnerable contexts where design can play a leading role in achieving social equity. Prior to joining MASS, Ana worked with Lacaton & Vassal Architects in (Paris, France) and Clavel Arquitectos (Murcia, Spain) where she was involved in multiple architecture and urban design projects in Europe and the Middle East. Ana received a B.A. and M.S. of architecture at the University of Alicante and the Madrid School of Architecture (ETSAM). After graduation, Ana also taught undergraduate architectural studios at the University of Alicante. Her studio courses advocated for the critical reconsideration of traditional conceptions of architecture and of the agency of designers in the twenty-first century.

Louise Foulkes, Caribbean Programs and Engineering Manager, Build Change

Louise Foulkes is a structural engineer and Caribbean Programs and Engineering Manager at Build Change. Louise is passionate about resilient, affordable, equitable, and sustainable housing. As the Caribbean Programs and Engineering Manager at Build Change, her work focuses on homeowner-driven reconstruction and retrofitting approaches for informal neighborhoods throughout the region. Her broad experience includes project management, pre-and post-disaster building assessments, structural design for wind, earthquakes, climate adaptation, construction supervision, and stakeholder engagement with communities, governments, the private sector, and homeowners. Most recently, she has been evaluating the social, financial, and technical barriers to resilient housing through a series of market assessment case studies. Louise holds an M.S. in engineering from Imperial College London and is an Affiliate of the UK Institution of Structural Engineers. Prior to working for Build Change, she worked as a structural engineer in Rwanda and the United Kingdom.

Benjamin Grabowski, Powertrain Engineer, Ampaire

Ben Grabowski is a Powertrain Engineer at Ampaire who designs, tests, and builds Ampaire’s electric hybrid Cessna 337 aircraft. Ben received a B.S. in electrical engineering degree from Caltech and later went on to work for a small electronics firm, designing and testing battery and solar power systems. Ben joined Ampaire to amplify his impact on climate change and help build a future for decarbonized aviation. As a self-proclaimed “generalist,” Ben has enjoyed the dynamic work provided in his role and has designed cabling, circuit boards, enclosures, and control systems.

Brandon Hornak, Project Manager, Build Health International

Brandon Hornak is a Project Manager at Build Health International (BHI) and received a degree in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University. Since college, Brandon has been an active member of Engineers Without Borders and is currently a professional mentor for the Northeastern University student chapter. Brandon joined Build Health International in 2019 and oversees project processes, including contacts, budget, implementation, and partner relationships. Frequently collaborating with site supervisors and local staff, much of Brandon’s work overlaps with BHI’s Haiti portfolio.

Hazem Kahla, Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) Manager, BamCore

Hazem Kahla is an Architectural Engineer and VDC Manager at BamCore. Hazem provides Revit and software support to team members, writes scripts, and builds tools to automate BamCore’s workflow. Hazem has supported BIM projects in three countries and has learned how to manage BIM data and collaborate with stakeholders across various platforms.

Laura MacDonald, Managing Director of the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder

Dr. Laura MacDonald is the Managing Director of the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering (MCGE) at the University of Colorado Boulder. She holds a Ph.D. and MS in Geography and Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a BS in Environmental Engineering from Northwestern University. As Managing Director of MCGE, Laura provides programmatic, administrative, and financial oversight of the Center’s undergraduate residential academic program, graduate certificate, and Professional Master’s programs. Additionally, she oversees a large-scale impact evaluation in Rwanda and supports the Mortenson Center’s broader domestic and international research portfolio. Prior to joining MCGE, Laura was Knowledge and Research Advisor at the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST). There, she worked to build CAWST’s reputation and credibility as a global leader in capacity development and technical support for non-networked water and sanitation. Laura is a Board Member of Engineers in Action and has previously served on the Engineering for Change Innovation Lab Steering Committee.

Noah McQueen, Co-Founder and Head of Research, Heirloom

Noah McQueen is the co-founder and Head of Research at Heirloom, a direct air capture company working to pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere to aid in our fight against climate change. Noah’s expertise surrounds carbon capture and removal, focusing on carbon mineralization technologies and direct air capture systems. This includes process design, alongside both techno-economic analyses and life cycle assessments, to evaluate carbon removal systems’ technical and economic feasibility. Noah holds a Ph.D. in chemical and biomolecular engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in chemical engineering from Colorado School of Mines.

Kyle Merical, Lead Powertrain Systems Engineer, Obantarla

Kyle Merical is the Lead Powertrain System Engineer at Obantarla and holds a B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University. While studying at Ohio State, he played key technical and leadership roles in the University’s Formula SAE team and conducted graduate research on automotive powertrains. Since graduation, he has spent his career at the forefront of advanced combustion engine research, design, development, and control. Kyle spent the first half of his career developing piston engines with improved performance and fuel economy. More recently, Kyle has sought out engine programs that focus on mitigating climate change, such as his previous role in control law design and analysis of Pratt & Whitney’s geared turbofan jet engine, which drastically reduces aircraft fuel consumption and emissions. His current role at Obantarla is a further commitment to his mission to help mitigate climate change. The engine-based syngas reformer is part of a larger system that will convert stranded methane gas into useful products instead of flaring it and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

Lambert Mugabo, Research Manager, Amazi Yego Limited

Lambert Mugabo is a Research Manager at Amazi Yego Limited with experience in environmental engineering and health. Lambert manages projects designed to improve social and economic conditions in resource-limited settings. A holder of an M.S. in global health from the University of Southampton, Lambert manages a research study funded by the United States Agency for International Development Innovation Ventures (USAID-DIV) and the Wellspring Foundation to evaluate the impact of Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) trailbridges on economic, health, and educational outcomes in isolated communities in Rwanda. Lambert is a Global Health Corps fellow and has coordinated education and training efforts across Rwanda. Most notably, Tubeho Neza’s (Live Well) campaign, a DelAgua Health program in partnership with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, which distributed advanced water filters and Eco Zoom stoves to more than 300,000 households.

Edgar Mussajjawaza, Operations Manager, Bridges to Prosperity

Edgar Mussajjawaza is an Operations Manager at Bridges to Prosperity (B2P). Edgar graduated with a B.S. in building economics and later pursued a diploma in civil and building engineering. During this period, he worked mainly in the cell tower construction business. Driven by a desire to improve his leadership and construction management skills, Edgar pursued a postgraduate diploma in project management followed by an M.S. in construction management. Edgar possesses over five years of postgraduate experience in public infrastructure design, construction supervision, and project management. Edgar joined B2P in 2019 and is driven to enable isolated communities access to critical infrastructure.

Nardos Nigusse Ayele, WASH Construction Supervision Officer, Splash International

Nardos Nigusse is a WASH Construction Supervision Officer at Splash International and holds a B.S. from Adama Science and Technology University in civil and architectural engineering and an M.S. in structural engineering from Addis Ababa Science and Technology University. Nardos has worked on various construction and WASH projects in the last six years and currently supports Splash’s WASH programming in Ethiopia.

Sylvere Nsengimana, Research and Development Manager, EarthEnable

Sylvere Nsengimana is a Civil Engineer and Research Development Manager at EarthEnable with a B.S. in civil engineering. Sylvere has worked with EarthEnable since 2019 and has supported material quality testing projects and the development of a micro-franchising model. Currently, he is working to oversee the development of the company’s products and lead the team to innovate new products which align with the company’s mission and vision.

David Owino, Draftsperson, BuildX Studio

David Owino is a Draftsperson and Civil Engineer at BuildX Studio. David holds a B.S. in civil and structural engineering from the Technical University of Kenya and is experienced working in the BIM environment in Nairobi, Kenya, and the Middle East. David is driven to support sustainable designs that are affordable and human-centered.

Ayush Raj Shahi, Graduate Research Assistant, Mortenson Center in Global Engineering

Ayush Raj Shahi is an Environmental Engineering and Global Engineering Ph.D. student at the University of Colorado Boulder working at the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering (MCGE). He was born and brought up in Kathmandu, Nepal, and moved to the USA for his graduate education. His research focuses on Arsenic Treatment in drinking water for small-scale communities. Ayush has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Tribhuvan University in Nepal. He also graduated with an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of New Mexico in July 2019. He worked for a labor-based environmentally friendly road construction and management project in rural western Nepal for one and a half years. In summer 2020, he completed a three-month internship with iDE. At CU, he has been part of the 2020 and 2021 planning committees of the student-run Colorado WASH symposium and Engineers without Borders CU Nepal Chapter.

Ash Seth, Design & Engineering Consultant, Kheyti

Ash Seth is a social innovation strategist, designer, engineer, and educator, working at the intersection of technology and global development at innovation hub, Newlab, in Brooklyn, NY. Ash supports Kheyti’s programming and is passionate about utilizing design and education to empower marginalized individuals to maximize their economic and entrepreneurial potential. She has driven growth on several international development and social change projects in multiple industries, from agriculture to renewable energy to medical devices, in India, Nepal, Mexico, and Ghana. Her work centers on design consulting and strategic planning for development, iteration, implementation, and scaling of hardware and software products and services addressing wicked problems in global, resource-constrained areas.

Kylie Van Aken, Quality Manager, Vartega

Kylie Van Aken is a Quality Manager at Vartega with a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Denver. Kylie joined Vartega through an internship at the Composites Institute (IACMI). Upon completing the internship, Kylie joined the Vartega team as a mechanical engineer. After a year at Vartega, Kylie followed a dream to join the Peace Corps as a math teacher in Sierra Leone. Kylie reunited with Vartega in August of 2020 and transitioned from the role of Mechanical Engineer to Quality Manager at the start of 2021.

George Wekesa, Architect, BuildX Studio

George Wekesa is a licensed architect at BuildX Studio and a fellow at the Design Networking Hub, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. At BuildX, he translates client visions into human-centered and sustainable projects, focusing on alternative building technology to advance environmentally conscious materials, affordable healthcare, and socially responsive design solutions.

Alex Yang, Director of Engineering, Rebound Technologies

Alex is currently the Director of Engineering at Rebound Technologies, a hardware startup developing a novel, high-power-density, deployment-ready energy recovery and energy storage system targeted at improving legacy efficiency and performance in cooling industry applications. Alex brings a decade of product development experience, with an emphasis on rigorous technical design and analysis with computational and probabilistic methods. His systems integration experience and hardware verification and validation expertise empower him to tackle tough challenges in system design, balance of systems trade studies, and product deployment and commissioning. In addition to technical expertise, Alex offers experience in leading technical teams to solve a variety of problems in different industries, providing mentorship and guidance to early-career engineers, and establishing and implementing best practices and sound processes. With a track record of delivering robust engineering guidelines in the form of design templates or as a design reviewer, Alex is also directing the implementation of Rebound’s product data management system. Alex holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University as a McMullen Dean’s Scholar, and an M.S. in Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

https://emake.gr/2022-tech-lead-development-program-autodesk-foundation/

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radishreader · 2 years

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Post-conflict and post-disaster zones are also particularly vulnerable to the spread of infectious diseases--and women die in greater numbers than men when pandemics hit. Take Sierra Leone, the country at the heart of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, and which has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world: 1,360 mothers die per every 100,000 live births (for comparison, the OECD average is fourteen per 100,000), and one in seventeen mothers have a lifetime risk of death associated to childbirth. The government has recently released data revealing that at least 240 pregnant women die every month in Sierra Leone.

Throw Ebola into the mix and women suddenly had two types of death to fear: from childbirth and from Ebola. In fact it was worse than that, because pregnant women were at increased risk of contracting Ebola due to their high levels of contact with health services and workers: the Washington Post reported that two of the three largest outbreaks of Ebola 'involved transmission of the virus in maternity settings'. The fact that Ebola decimated healthcare workers (themselves mainly women) made the feminized risk even higher: the Lancet estimated that in the three countries affected by the virus, an extra 4,022 women would die every year as a result of the shortage.

Failing to account for gender during the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu virus) outbreaks meant that 'government officials tended to deal with men because they were thought to be the owners of farms, despite the fact that women often did the majority of work with animals on backyard farms'. During the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, 'initial quarantine plans ensured that women received food supplies, but did not account for water or fuel'. In Sierra Leone and other developing countries, fetching fuel and water is the job of women (and of course fuel and water are necessities of life), so until the plans were adjusted, 'women continued to leave their houses to fetch firewood, which drove a risk of spreading infection'.

Women's care-taking responsibilities also have more deadly consequences for women in pandemics. Women do the majority of care for the sick at home. They also make up the majority of 'traditional birth attendants, nurses and the cleaners and laundry workers in hospitals, where there is risk of exposure', particularly given these kinds of workers 'do not get the same support and protection as doctors, who are predominantly men'. Women are also those who prepare a body for a funeral, and traditional funeral rites lead many to be infected. In Liberia, during the 2014 Ebola epidemic, women were estimated to make up 75% of those who died from the disease; in Sierra Leone, the 'epicenter' of the outbreak,' UNICEF estimated that up to 60% of those who died were women.

A 2016 paper also found that in the recent Ebola and Zika epidemics international health advice did no 'take into account women's limited capacity to protect themselves from infection'. In both cases, advice issued was based on the (inaccurate) premise that women have the economic, social or regulatory power 'to exercise the autonomy contained in international advice'. The result was that already-existing gender inequalities were 'further compounded' by international health advice.

–Caroline Criado-Perez, Invisible Women (2019)

#caroline criado perez #quotes #invisible women

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edwardspoonhands · 4 years

Note

Not really a question, but I'd love to see a video from you about billionaires, philanthropy, and public perception. I recently watched Why Billionaires Won’t Save Us segment from The Patriot Act, and read Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas, I know John has made a video on things getting better, but I recently saw an article (Progress and its discontents from New Internationalist) that makes me doubt even the claims of progress, and I'm feeling pretty pessimistic.

It’s impossible to argue that things haven’t been getting better in a lot of measurable ways. The number of children dying has dramatically decreased, for example, and children dying is always bad. Literacy is up, starvation is down, we’ve eliminated a lot of diseases and decreased the impact of a lot of others. But there is no way in which this story is simple.

I am frustrated by two parts of this conversation:

1. I am frustrated by people who paint this as a result of markets and capitalism and billionaire interventions, as if the decrease in child mortality is something a bunch of billionaires did. In fact, this is a result of people working hard and caring about each other. Treating people as capital has done TREMENDOUS harm and continues to. Global trade has helped and it has hurt. Painting this progress as an inevitable effect of capitalism is just incorrect. The place where Partners in Health is building their Maternal Care Hospital is the place where diamonds come from. But no one in that country makes money from those diamonds, the government sold a 100 year lease to finance their civil war, so right now the place where that luxury originates is also a place with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.

2. That being said, I am also frustrated by people who say that all of the good that has been done is just lies, and actually things are worse now than they ever were. Not only is that misinformation, it also belittles the massive amount of work done to make life on earth better. That includes work by aid workers, but it mostly comes down to the people who live in those places working to make life better for their families and their communities.

In short, things have gotten better, but the whys and hows are complex and not always clear. The people I trust to have the best handle on those questions are the people in the communities where these problems exist and, secondarily, the people who work directly with them.

That’s why John and I decided to work closely with Partners in Health, and why John has gone to Sierra Leone to learn from healthcare workers there. The vast majority of PIH’s employees are from the places that they serve. Partners in Health isn’t about swooping in and saving people, it’s about enabling communities to build sustainable healthcare systems.

None of this is ever going to be perfect or without fault. We are never going to have a perfect global system, and I will certainly not defend the current system, which is often literally disgusting. But there are people who are alive right now and helping others because someone helped them, and that’s worth celebrating. Likewise, it’s a chain that’s worth continuing, and that gives me hope.

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choithramhospital · 29 days

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CMH: Dialysis Vs. Kidney Transplant: What's The Best Option For You?

The kidney is an essential organ in the human body. The kidney not only purifies the blood and eliminates toxins from the body, but it also regulates water balance, maintains electrolyte balance, controls blood pressure, activates vitamin D, and performs many other activities.

For optimal kidney function, it's important to have a healthy lifestyle and eat a balanced diet. Even though each of our two kidneys is essential for our bodily functions, some individuals are born without one kidney or have chronic renal disease that causes either kidney to fail. In this blog, we are layering down the best

Can one kidney function as a substitute for survival?

Yes, it is possible to not only survive but also strive to have a normal life with one kidney. The person with two kidneys will have a much healthier life as compared to the person with one.

#best hospital sierra leone #emergency

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sizzlingsandwichperfection-blog · 1 year

Photo

Maybe the funniest part of this whole situation is that we’re actually selling a lot of coffee.

Like, more people are buying the coffee from tumblr than ever did from twitter. I let that place make me miserable for nothing.

Awesome Coffee is so good. It is SO MUCH BETTER than the coffee I used to drink. And it’s coffee that you can feel good about drinking because we pay a premium directly to small farmers’ collectives in Colombia to make sure we get the best beans and support communities working to reverse deforestation.

Plus, instead of the profit going to Starbucks’ CEO or whoever, all the profit from the Awesome Coffee Club goes to help build, staff, and supply a maternal care center at Koidu Government Hospital in Sierra Leone.

I am just an unpaid social media intern for the awesome coffee club, but I love it so, so much.

#actually a coffee company #but also the blog of the coffee company's unpaid marketing intern

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cavehags · 4 years

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The reluctance to factor gender into relief efforts is partly due to the still-persistent attitude that since infectious diseases affect both men and women, it's best to focus on control and treatment 'and to leave it to others to address social problems that may exist in society, such as gender inequalities after an outbreak has ended'. Academics are also at fault here: a recent analysis of 29 million papers in over 15,000 peer-reviewed titles published around the time of the Zika and Ebola epidemics found that less than 1% explored the gendered impact of the outbreaks. But, explains a WHO report, the belief that gender doesn't matter is a dangerous position which can hinder preventative and containment efforts, as well as leaving important insights into how diseases spread undetected. Failing to account for gender during the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu virus) outbreaks meant that 'government officials tended to deal with men because they were thought to be the owners of farms, despite the fact that women often did the majority of work with animals on backyard farms'. During the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, 'initial quarantine plans ensured that women received food supplies, but did not account for water or fuel'. In Sierra Leone and other developing countries, fetching fuel and water is the job of women (and of course fuel and water are necessities of life), so until the plans were adjusted, 'women continued to leave their houses to fetch firewood, which drove a risk of spreading infection'. Women's care-taking responsibilities also have more deadly consequences for women in pandemics. Women do the majority of care for the sick at home. They also make up the majority of 'traditional birth attendants, nurses and the cleaners and laundry workers in hospitals, where there is risk of exposure', particularly given these kinds of workers 'do not get the same support and protection as doctors, who are predominantly men'. Women are also those who prepare a body for a funeral, and traditional funeral rites lead many to be infected. In Liberia, during the 2014 Ebola epidemic, women were estimated to make up 75% of those who died from the disease; in Sierra Leone, the 'epicentre' of the outbreak, UNICEF estimated that up to 60% of those who died were women. A 2016 paper also foudn that in the recent Ebola and Zika epidemics international health advice 'did not take into account women's limited capacity to protect themselves from infection'. In both cases, advice issued was based on the (inaccurate) premise that women have the economic, social or regulatory power 'to exercise the autonomy contained in international advice'. The result was that already-existing gender inequalities were 'further compounded' by international health advice.

Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez (p. 299-300 in the hardcover), a book I’d been meaning to read for two years and strongly recommend now that I’m done

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reading-writing-revolution · 4 years

Link

Casual #racism by the @WhiteHouse and #TrumpAdministration.

An international organization had to send help to the Covid-ravaged Navajo Nation, think of that. Not the federal government. Not the United States government. The US government, led by Donald Trump, has done so little that we needed outside help from an international non-profit group.

America is quickly becoming a failed state run by mad men and their greed.

#EatTheRich - sooner or later, they’ll be all the food that’s left

“Doctors Without Borders is best known for sending medical professionals into international conflict zones in the midst of medical crises. The organization has teams in Afghanistan, Iran, Sierra Leone, Venezuela and 66 other countries. It did not, however, have a medical presence in the U.S. — until now.

Navajo Nation, home to roughly 170,000 people, now has more coronavirus cases per capita than any state in America. Due to a shortage in nursing and specialized medical staff, the most critical patients have to be airlifted to hospitals outside of the reservation. On top of that, Navajo people carry a high rate of diabetes and hypertension, rendering them more susceptible to infection. And as of early May, the region has a higher coronavirus death rate than that of 46 states. The new CBSN Originals documentary, "Coronavirus in Navajo Nation," explores the community's plight.”

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giapism · 4 years

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I took a Harvard course on dealing with pandemics. Here’s what I learned about the Corona Virus.

A couple of weeks ago, I enrolled in an online course named “Lessons from Ebola: Preventing the Next Pandemic” from Harvard University in hope of gaining a more educated standpoint on how to deal with the current COVID-19 situation.

In this post, I’ll combine what I’ve learned in the course with my own research and observations into lessons applicable to COVID-19 in 5 sections: 1) A comparison of COVID-19 to Ebola, the most recent pandemic; 2) Trust and Community Engagement as essential elements for success in the fight against pandemics; 3) What you can do as an individual to fight COVID-19; 4) What nations can do to fight COVID-19 and 5) Helpful Resources. Feel free to read all or skip to the sections that interest you the most.

1. “Not enough people die from Corona for it to be dangerous! Ebola’s death rate was way higher!”

Opening up the long post, let’s talk about how COVID-19 has been continually compared to past epidemics and how these comparisons seem to make sense, but really don’t. With the overall mortality rate of COVID-19 at only 4% compared to the double digits of its predecessors, many people—like the young man below—are skeptical of whether it’s really that dangerous at all.

The tweet then follows with a specific comparison of COVID-19′s then 3.4% mortality rate to the 2014 outbreak of Ebola’s 50% mortality rate in attempt to downplay COVID-19′s dangers and justify OP’s “you only live once” mentality.

Looking at this gap, COVID-19′s dangers couldn’t possibly compare to past outbreaks, right? Well... not quite. While the statistics are correct, the way they’re used here completely disregards other important factors regarding the context of how these diseases are spread, making it hard to compare whether one is “more dangerous” than the other at all.

If you really want to compare, you need a holistic comparison of the contexts, resources available, responses and much more. I’ll give a few examples below to show how the two epidemics are different:

A. International and Local Response

In case of the 2014 Ebola epidemic, WHO took extremely long to declare the situation an international emergency. The first Ebola cases hit in December 2013, but only 8 months later did WHO announce “emergency” status. By then, with no funds/aid to buy medical equipment and no volunteer health workers mobilized to aid the severe lack of doctors on site, the damage done was already too great. More than half of the 2500 patients had already lost their lives. With no resources and no international help in those entire 8 months, local governments struggled immensely, resulting in responses so weak that many citizens lost faith in the system. This meant there was no unanimous cooperation to fight Ebola in the beginning.

With COVID-19, WHO’s pandemic warning came much faster: less than 4 months after the first case in November 2019. This means that countries will have more time to prepare themselves in advance before the virus reaches its peak in their own lands, and that funding/aid can be efficiently funneled to places currently that need them the most. In China, where COVID-19 first appeared, the government were incredibly robust in responding to the crisis, immediately locking down the region, mobilizing resources and educating their people. Unlike the West Africans with Ebola, the Chinese had trusted their governments and been highly involved in the fight against corona since the beginning. It only took China 2 months to shut down schools, whereas it took the West Africas 6-7 months. For the Ebola epidemic, these delays dealt a fatal blow to their already sky-high number of casualties.

B. Resources Available in Countries of Breakout

In Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia where most cases of Ebola broke out, there were severe shortages human resources, medical equipment and training on how to handle the disease. Already tiny, under-equipped clinics couldn’t handle the influx of patients. Sierra Lione had roughly 51 physicians for 5 million people, that’s a 1:98,000 physician to citizen ratio, and protective equipment was so lacking that people initially had to use plastic bags in place of gloves. Without personal protective equipment, many health workers ended up dying from the disease, leaving less people to care for increasing cases. Countries like America also discouraged volunteering, firing everyone who wanted to help in Africa for fear of them bringing back Ebola, driving down the number of outside helpers even more.

While there were definitely shortages in Wuhan, the first epicenter of COVID-19, China definitely had better resources and medical facilities available for its citizens. Following the outbreak, 23 000 doctors and nurses were mobilized to Hubei Province (Wuhan is the capital of Hubei), that’s a ratio of around 1:2,500 physicians to citizens. Still a crazy stretch, of course (even assuming that not every citizen will fall sick), but already way, way better than the ratio in Ebola hotspots. China is also much richer than the West Africas, and besides the money the Chinese Government was pouring into the COVID-19 fight, many wealthy Chinese businessmen and celebrities donated millions of dollars worth of medical equipment, masks and money to fund research and treatments.

China had far better capabilities to deal with COVID-19 than the West Africas had with Ebola. Perhaps you could consider Ebola’s high death rate a reflection of the struggling African response, and COVID-19′s lower one a reflection of the more prepared Chinese one. It’s NOT, however, a direct reflection of which diseases is more dangerous on its own and by how much. If COVID-19 had broken out in a country with the same resources as West Africa, the death toll would undoubtedly be much higher.

But that was at the beginning of the outbreak. Now, the situation around the world isn’t looking too great. COVID-19 in over 190 countries, many whose medical systems are sorely under-prepared to handle the virus, placing nations at risk of healthcare collapse. As medical supplies, human resources and hospital beds run out, more people will unquestionably die. The mortality rate has already risen from 2% to 4% since I started writing this article.

C. Infectiousness and Scale of Disease

Miraculously as it seems, Ebola mostly stayed within the African nations with only 14 cases outside (USA-11, Italy-1, Spain-1, UK-1). This was because Guinea, Sierra Leone and Libera (regions most affected) were already fairly isolated nations, and being right next to the sea prevented the virus from spreading in that direction. Local governments set-up strict border control, and international airlines/private companies basically stopped flying to Africa so few people could carry the virus outside affected areas.

While Ebola spreads through direct contact, COVID-19 is spread through droplets that can cling to hard surfaces, making it much more infectious. Despite Hubei’s lockdown, the virus managed to spread to over 190 countries across the world where cases will only continue to rocket unless governments act fast. Just for comparison, yes Ebola killed 50% of cases, but its scope was much smaller with 28,637 cases in contrast to Corona’s 430,000 cases (and counting). COVID-19’s scope is wider than not just Ebola, but also 2003′s SARS (26 countries, 8098 cases) and 2012′s MERS (27 countries, 2494 cases) which it is often compared to. An outbreak of this scale hasn’t been present since the Spanish Flu in 1918 (which affected over 500 million people).

Now how does that translate in terms of danger? Well, with outbreaks focused in few regions like Ebola, it’s much easier to coordinate support from international organizations (MSF, WHO...) and other nations. People know exactly where they should be sending resources and supplies, and where to direct help. But when all 195 countries are infected with the virus, it’s impossible for WHO to help all nations that need it because there just aren’t enough resources! When everyone’s struggling to contain their own cases, helping other countries just isn’t a priority anymore. The world can come together to help 3 countries, maybe even 30, but all 195? That’s a completely different story.

Mini conclusion: Don’t be fooled by COVID-19′s seemingly low mortality rate into thinking it isn’t dangerous. COVID-19 is of larger scale than all recent pandemics, including Ebola, and threatens to bring a bigger danger: the collapse of healthcare systems worldwide. Governments can lower cases and deaths by taking strict preventative measures and ensuring enough resources/supplies are always available at hand.

2. Community Engagement + Trust = Success (well that’s the gist of it, anyway)

A. Community Engagement vs. Individual Satisfaction

In countries like China, Vietnam, South Korea, and recently Italy, governments have taken strict measures to control the virus, including but not limited to cancelling schools and events, issuing detailed quarantine/treatment protocols and educating people of the disease nationwide. Citizens have banded together and are closely cooperating with their government to overcome the epidemic. The Vietnamese Prime Minister has even called the effort “Chống Dịch Như Chống Giặc” which roughly translates to “Fighting the virus like fighting against invaders/enemies.” This is not an exaggeration. With every single person and community fully engaged and playing their part to stop COVID-19, it really does feel like we’re “going to battle.”

Countries with the highest levels of community engagement and strongest government responses have proven to be most successful in dealing with pandemics time and again. They don’t even need the most money or best medical equipment, just complete trust in their government’s efforts and the mindset of everyone doing their part for the greater good.

Interestingly enough, many countries successfully containing COVID-19 are Asian despite being closer to the initial outbreak, which might reflect the emphasis on “community” in Asian cultures, while Western nations that prioritize “individuality” generally end up doing worse. For example, at one time Italy and South Korea both had around 7000 cases, but Italy’s death toll was 366 while South Korea’s was 50. Koreans had shut down schools and public events, issued tens of thousands of tests, and were all self-quarantining. Italy had seen thousands of cases the week before, yet citizens at that time showed little concern and still gathered en-mass, allowing the virus to spread more quickly. This was right before the Italian Government announced COVID-19 as a national emergency and locked down the entire country—only then did people start taking it seriously.

Notice how both situations dealt with viral spreads, but Koreans’ strict abidance to community guidelines early on helped lower the number of fatalities drastically, and now Korea is reporting fewer and fewer new cases every day while Italy’s numbers are still increasing exponentially. Likewise, in America where governments ignored WHO’s emergency warning and failed to take precautionary measures against COVID-19, numbers are soaring with over 30,000 cases accumulating in 3 weeks. Countries where people choose to indulge in short-term individual satisfaction end up facing far worse consequences than countries which choose to sacrifice some personal liberties early on for the greater good.

B. The Problem of Trust

So now let’s talk about trust, another crucial factor in dealing with pandemics. When Ebola hit the West Africas in 2014, one of the biggest hurdles hindering recovery early on was the complete lack of trust between citizens, the government and even international helpers. When physicians from abroad first showed up, they were shunned—locals didn’t trust these strangers in plastic suits and goggles, speaking tongues different from their own. Locals didn’t trust that the healthcare system could actually cure them, and in many districts people stopped going to clinics entirely for fear of contracting Ebola. Imagine the complications that arose because of that lack of trust! People refusing to visit clinics meant more severe infections, more deaths, more transmissions, and lack of cooperation with government efforts.

The early days of Ebola were a medical disaster. It was only when the government solidified trust with citizens by training community health workers and educating nationwide about the disease that things started looking up. Likewise, to successfully control and overcome COVID-19, governments and their citizens must trust each other wholeheartedly and closely cooperate to push back dangers.

“Learn to trust the government if they're taking action. It’s not because they're more intelligent or more prepared than you, certainly, but they are the only people with access to all of the available information. Knowledge is power, now more than ever. We are able to evaluate and predict the effect of the measures, so there's a reason they've been taken.” — Angelo Sidonio.

Right now, trust is a big problem. People all over the world are in panic because they don’t believe their governments are doing everything possible to keep them safe. And they’re rightfully concerned! As food banks and shelters close down due to lack of volunteers, over 320,000 homeless people in the UK, unable to self-isolate, face even greater dangers than before. In America, where almost 40 million people live in poverty and another 3 quarters live paycheck to paycheck, sky-high medical bills can either discourage citizens from seeking treatment, or push those who do into bankruptcy. And that’s assuming they even get treated, for although America is taking some measures like “social distancing” only a tiny number of cases are being dealt with. As of March 23rd, Spain and America both have around 30 000 cases, yet Spain has finished treating 4,400 cases while America has only treated 636 — that’s a difference of seven times!

Until governments can prove themselves trustworthy to their citizens, the efforts to contain COVID-19 will be long, arduous and without unanimous support. This means ensuring even the most vulnerable groups feel protected and assuring citizens that should they contract the virus, they will get quality treatment that won’t break the bank. Trust minimizes panic, boosts morale and creates unity, putting the country in a better position to defeat the pandemic.

Mini conclusion: To overcome pandemics 1) Citizens must trust that the government is doing everything possible to protect them (gov. should actually be doing this by the way!) and 2) Everyone must be fiercely involved in community engagement, playing their part to stop the disease spread. Personal sacrifices are sometimes necessary for the greater good. Trust minimizes panic, boosts morale and cooperation.

3. So what can YOU do about all this?

A lot of what I’ve just said points to systematic issues and government decisions that most of us can’t really change (unless you’re perhaps planning to become the next world leader, then yes, please go ahead and change them), so I’ll talk a bit about what we can do as students or individuals. There’s obviously all that stuff about washing your hands and self-quarantining which I won’t repeat—you can access WHO’s guidelines here and Vietnam’s guidelines here—but below are some other important things worth considering:

A. Raising Awareness and Educating Others

In many countries, there has still been no official nationwide efforts to educate the public on the risks of COVID-19, leading to many citizens either misunderstanding, trivializing or being ignorant of the topic. If you live in such an area, do your part by raising awareness on the following points, plus any more you can think of:

“Othering” and Exoticizing

COVID-19 brought about another disease: racism. Across the world, Asians are being shunned, discriminated against and seen as “carriers of the virus.” Many Chinese restaurants are losing customers, and some Asians are even getting beat up for wearing masks.

This is what you would call “othering”—somehow exoticizing COVID-19 as something intrinsically separate and different from oneself. “Oh that’s a Chinese disease that originated from exclusively Chinese practices of eating wild animals! It has nothing to do with me!” Saying this makes people feel “separated” from the risks because they don’t partake in these “distinctively Chinese” practices that lead to COVID-19. This is all false security, though. COVID-19 and its modes of transmission isn’t “distinctly Chinese” and consumption of wild animals is found across the globe (France, America...)

To exoticize human practices as “different” or “savage” is clearly racist and shouldn’t be condoned/ignored under any circumstances. However, do be careful as to how you go about responding to these people. If you’re aggressive, it will most likely backfire. If you can, try to remain calm and build understanding (most of these people are just ignorant, not inherently evil and incapable of love), as attacking them will only make them more defensive. More importantly, check on the victims of racism: let them know you support and stand by them.

“It’s only dangerous in ______! We’re safe here!”

But are you really? In a world as interconnected as ours, is there really such a thing as ‘only local’ anymore? Do you have family members or fellow citizens in epidemic hotspots? With millions of trains, cars and airplanes flying between cities, states and countries, do you really think there’s no chance that the virus will spread to where you currently live? At the start, we all thought COVID-19 could be contained in China, yet now it’s in 190 countries with rocketing numbers! There’s no such thing as completely safe, and many precautions are free and easy.

Trivializing: “It’s not even that dangerous! I’ll go to the pub if I want to! Plane tickets are on sale, so maybe I’ll go travelling too!”

Please don’t be irresponsible. You might not be at risk, but walking around and going to crowded places increases the chance of you picking up the virus and spreading it to others with who won’t survive! Perhaps you’ll end up passing it to your parents, grandparents, or someone with underlying health problems whose infection would be fatal. Perhaps you’ll pass it to someone without health insurance, who can’t pay for the cost of treatment. Remember that it won’t just be you suffering if anything bad happens, but those around you as well.

B. Educate Yourself: Study the Situation In Depth

Next! Other than teaching others the basic know-hows of COVID-19, it’s also important to educate yourself. And I don’t just mean knowing the basic symptoms and 6 steps of hand-washing. Most of us are self-quarantining with not much to do. Go deeper.

If you have the time, study how nations, NGOs and international organizations dealt with past pandemics, which methods succeeded or failed, and how they’re currently dealing with this epidemic. How is funding for research related to infectious diseases allocated and how can we improve the system for information sharing between scientists and nations? How and when does the WHO, World Bank, UNICEF and other UN Institutions allocate funding, humanitarian aid and expert help in a time when demand outweighs supply? What levels of involvement and accountability are to be expected at the level of individuals, communities, nations, and international organizations and how should they work together?

It’s a lot of knowledge, certainly, and you needn’t learn it all at once. But understanding the relationships between public health, economy and politics (even at a very basic level) will be tremendously helpful in making sense of why governments/organizations do what they do, and how our lives will be affected. At the end of this article I’ll list some resources I’ve found valuable for you to check out if you’re interested.

4. What Nations Can Do (Not an Expert Though So Maybe Don’t Quote Me On Your Essay)

Disclaimer: I’m not an expert on this so if someone actually does this and it ends up failing, don’t sue me. But alright, after taking the course on dealing with pandemics and observing how countries around the world are reacting, I’ve pieced together some basic steps that might work.

S. “TEST, TEST, TEST!”

In a press briefing on 16th March 2020, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announces “We have a simple message for all countries: test, test, test!” He emphasizes testing, isolation and contact-tracing as the backbone of the response, and urges nations to ramp up on these measures. That’s not to say that social distancing isn’t important—it is and we MUST continue to do it —but quarantining alone is not enough to extinguish the pandemic.

South Korea’s success in driving down it’s number of cases from exponential increase to few new cases per day is largely credited to its efficient testing. South Korea has issued over 380,000 tests since the COVID-19 outbreak in its country, and is testing some 20,000 people everyday. By testing suspects or those with mild symptoms, carriers are isolated and treated before they can spread it to others, well before their condition becomes fatal. With the recent donation of testing kits from WHO and other organizations, hopefully many more countries will also see the lowering numbers of this nation.

A. Nationwide Education on Pandemic

Next, to put out the epidemic, countries must provide ongoing, consistent and thorough education to the public about COVID-19 nationwide, regardless of whether they’re epicenters or not. No, a government official going on TV to say 5 sentences about the breakout is not enough. You cancelled classes? All your students should deeply understand why it’s so important that we don’t gather in crowds and spend that time isolating, not gathering at parties to ‘celebrate.’ Instead of the occasional “just wash your hands” reminder, comprehensive hygiene protocols should be put up noticeably everywhere and everyone should be able to repeat them.

Schools, hospitals, companies, communities and families must all have guidelines for dealing with the virus (appropriate to the level of severity in their area), and constantly be reminding their members of these duties. Every individual must deeply understand what they’re dealing with, what the risks are and how they can play their part in fighting the epidemic.

B. Standardized Procedures & Training

To educate, there needs to be standardized guidelines, procedures and protocols to educate with. Perhaps it would wise to train physicians around the country instead of just those at epicenters: that way when new cases arise away from the epicenter, local physicians can treat them right there instead of transporting them to hospitals in other cities, increasing chances of spreading the disease along the way (Vietnam is doing this.) Train community workers too, so they know how to handle local cases and can educate their communities--in an emergency like this, no community must be left ignorant.

For the general public, training on remote working is necessary too: many companies and schools are struggling with effective online meetings and communications. It’s only when everyone’s forced to work online that you realize many teachers don’t know what the heck they’re doing and everyone’s webcam/mike is off because they’re actually looking at memes instead of studying.

C. Strengthening Emergency Responses

Perhaps two months ago this section would be named “improve your healthcare system to prepare for the worst” but now that we’re in the middle of the outbreak, it’s impossible to fix everything as we go along. Instead, right now nations must strengthen their emergency response systems. This means being able to re-allocate funds and human resources to necessary areas, build/transform new treatment/quarantine wards and hospitals quickly, and ensure no shortages of medical (and general) supplies.

To meet demands in dire conditions, this requires governments to think outside outside the box and be resourceful, transforming their current assets (even if lacking) into something usable. In Singapore, this means using the army to pack masks and supplies for the population. In Vietnam, it meant clothing factories switching gears to mass-produce affordable, safe cloth masks to make up for shortages. It could mean governments hiring airlines and restaurants to make food for people in quarantine, transforming army camps or hotels into quarantine wards, quickly finding ways to train new personnel or creating an online health reporting system for their citizens. Whatever the case, an emergency like this one requires governments to step up their game and respond faster.

D. 10 Recommendations for Reform Before The Next Pandemic

To get more onto the academic side of things, after the Ebola outbreak of 2014, the Harvard-LSHTM Independent Panel on Ebola came out with this report, outlining 10 reform recommendations to help deal with future pandemics. I feel like a lot of it is still relevant today and should be adopted by nations to tackle the COVID-19 situation. I will quickly summarize the report in bullet points below because it’s super long, but check it out for yourself if you have time:

Prevention:

Nations must invest domestically in their core capacities (strengthening healthcare system, education programs...) The global community should provide poorer countries with funding and help to invest in these capacities.

WHO should promote early reporting of epidemics. There should be financial incentives for countries that report early to 1) Help deal with the outbreak and 2) Compensate for economic losses.

Response:

WHO should create a Center for Outbreak Response with strong technical capacity, generous budgets and clear accountability lines.

WHO should create a transparent, politically protected Committee with the power of declaring public health emergencies (right now only the Director General can declare public health emergencies).

An independent UN Accountability Commission should be created to assess worldwide responses to major disease outbreaks.

Research and Development (R&D):

Rules/guidelines on operating during/between outbreaks should be developed to oversee efficient research and ensure access to the benefits of research.

Research funders should establish a worldwide R&D financing facility for outbreak-relevant drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, and non-pharmaceutical supplies.

Governing global system on prevention and response:

Create a Global Health Commission in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

WHO should focus scale back expansive activities and focus on it’s core functions. In outbreaks, focus on 1) helping nations improve core capacities 2) rapid early response and assessment of outbreaks (including potential emergency declarations) 3) establishing technical norms, standards, and guidance and 4) convening global community to set goals, mobilize resources, and negotiate rules.

WHO needs to reform to be more effective. Member states should be vocal about choosing a strong, competent leader.

Again, these recommendations were made after WHO’s response to the Ebola outbreak of 2014. Although COVID-19 will bring about many new difficulties not yet covered in this report, it’s still a valuable guide for how we can prepare for the worst. WHO has since carried out multiple reforms, and despite the severity of the situation, are responding faster this time round to provide the world with information to tackle the crisis. Looking at successes to contain the disease around the world, we know what works. If all countries could apply those measures responsibly, we can pull through.

5. Helpful Resources

Lastly, I’d like to share some resources I’ve found tremendously helpful in understanding this COVID-19 ordeal. Check them out when you have time!

First, the “Lessons from Ebola: Preventing the Next Pandemic” online course from Harvard University that I mentioned at the beginning. The course runs for 1 month and is totally free! I got a lot of valuable insight from it on international responses to major infectious outbreaks. Although only Ebola is talked about in specific, a lot of it can apply to other diseases too, and I highly recommend it for basic understanding.

For general information:

Vietnam’s COVID-19 website from the Ministry of Health

World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Updates and General Information

Worldometer (COVID-19 case tracker)

Interactive Map showing global COVID-19 spread - Johns Hopkins CCSE

Interactive Map showing global COVID-19 spread - WHO (out of the 3 trackers, Worldometer usually updates fastest)

This one Mark Manson article on Individual vs. Systematic risks and other risks and biases of COVID-19

New York Times has good articles for US coverage, CNBC for worldwide-ish coverage, but Western media has a bias against China, so check out South China Morning Post for coverage from the East.

Ghen Co Vy - A Bop to Wash Your Hands to

Scientific Journals/Sciencey sources to track research reports. While normally many journals charge fees, recently all information regarding COVID-19 has been changed to open-access:

The Lancet’s COVID-19 Resource Center

Cell Press COVID-19 Resource Center

Elsevier COVID-19 Information Center

The BMJ

WHO COVID-19 Global Research Database

That’s all I can think off right now! I’ve linked most of my sources in the article, and will provide additional updates to information when I can. For now I hope this article was useful and helped you learn something new about the COVID-19 pandemic, no matter now big or small.

Depending on the situation, our days of self-quarantine can last anywhere from a few weeks to months. In that time, remember to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect yourself and your community, but also stay calm because panicking won’t help. Eat and drink healthily, stay clean and safe, learn things and look out for others. Let’s conquer this virus together!

All statistics are of 25th March 2020 and prior.

#virus corona vũ hán #coronavirus #covid-19 #world health organization #education #social problems #socialdistancing #quarantine #sars cov 2 #eng #science #healthcare

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