2022
Have ever dreamed of flying around the world for work? Fortunately, I have such a job and it is not always rosy as you might expect it to be. A times you felt like going to the frontline.
It was barely last week when I had an exciting flight to Istanbul, and was boarding an Ethiopian airline flight onward to Addis-Ababa . Now as I am writing it seems like a decade since I arrived here.
When we landed at Addis, we begin to separate into groups, there are those who are on transit and those arriving. For my group, we kept walking till we left the fancy area to a place I will aptly described as the backyard of the airport.
It is either you are UN or NGO staff and some in uniform of some kinds. I myself had changed my trainers to all a weather boot and put-up my work jacket.
There are few all for risk business men with us and who are mostly from Nigeria. It was as If I had a mark of identity over my forehead as they quickly recognized me as fellow Nigerian.
The mood is sober anyway, some are chatting over covid-19 and how it adversely affected them. Someone even walked to me and asked” My friend you don do covid-19 test”.” ‘’You get am with you’’.I was just replying , yes, yes.
We are still waiting for an aircraft to take us to Juba , the capital of South Sudan. With similar expectation, we all knew it would be Bombardier propeller aircraft, In this almost all male team. We boarded unceremoniously and the pilot wasted no time at bringing the engine to live. We cautiously approached the tarmac.
He would accelerate to maximum and the buzzing sound of the engine rents the air. We took off to the air and as expected the turbulence came, we were on roller coaster. I as a regular passenger on a prop aircraft, I knew there was nothing to fear. It’s all part of the wild adventure.
Many hours have passed since we took off, we soon start descending to Juba International Airport . Later, we landed peaceful into the waiting hands of health officers in biochemical suite. They did not hesitate to sprayed us excessively as if we have brought a new strain of Covid-19 into their country.
We were ushered into a commotion at the airport hall, albeit some improvement in organization. For those who knew Juba international, you will agree with me that things have changed in what used to be a tent on the tarmac airport.
I was received with a “smile” from my colleague. Welcome to South Sudan, the newest country in the world. Later, I would understand the motive behind his smile as I was sent straight to quarantine for next 7 days. It was not a pleasant experience at all staying in a room for that long and only allow to do laundry on the ground floor and take few steps to the terrace for fresh air.
On the seventh day, I was sent to a medical center for covid test at a cost of $100. I almost shouted in annoyance at this outrageous price. The most expensive I ever done and probably the costliest in the world. The result came out negative. After the test, I was told next morning we would be flying to the north of the country.
And this time around we were lucky, our aircraft is Bombardier Dash 8-400J and it’s a fairly new one. I am quite happy because it is not the usual 20 years old aircraft of the past.
And after few hours in the air, we landed in Aweil , South Sudan. And It was like going back in time, not much development as taken place. Yet the place has a semblance of a city. There are power lines, rail tracks, university, state hospital etc.
Finally, I have reached my destination and will be working in a hospital, but not has doctor neither a nurse. I am happy, I am doing this kind of job and believe my efforts with that of others will help save thousand lives.
Hi @Emmik20
I can understand the feeling. I travel around alot too but only around West Africa.
Thanks for sharing about S.Sudan. what's the population and economy like? Don't think we have local guides from there have we? Try meet one or 2 before you leave and it will be worth it. Have a good stay.
Cheers
