Sunday

Posted a day late as in spite of the wi fi password being “best hotel” (no exotic or marigold) the wi fi connections do not live up to the password!!

Today we had an escorted visit with Jean Claude (MPPD Chief Pharmacist) to the genocide memorial, words cannot convey the sentiment of this place, and we were left felling that it was a totally manufactured ethnic conflict bought about by the studies of European anthropologists, JC was very keen to point out that it wasn’t a surprise event but had been pre-planned with the help of the media and government propaganda whipping up hatred within different groups for many months before (thank goodness last week we didn’t give Farage a mandate to continue blaming immigrants for all UK ills). We also felt ashamed by the lack of help from the outside world; apparently as few as 5000 troops would have stopped it!

We then had a hair-raising journey through stunning countryside as we distracted our very excited driver (JC) with talk of Morphine, NSAIDs, Contraception and Vasectomies. (note pic 3) where we are nervously clinging on to each other !) We had some great discussions that would have been best undertaken with our eyes closed as they seem undecided on which side of the road to drive!   The scenary was spectacular however and we would  have missed seeing  the cyclist being chauffeured up the hill on the back of a lorry - see pic.  As darkness set in armed  police appeared on the roadsides and army vehicles patrol for fear of rebels returning across the borders who played significant parts in the genocide.

On arriving at the hotel the reception area was full of Rwandan Drs here for a conference on circumcisions which apparently trumps palliative care for the conference room! (pretty sure this is being sponsored!) They joked with us , “ ah morphine – our pharmacists never let us have it “ confirmation this course we are participating in is needed!! Hoping delegates and room appear tomorrow as the  coach our organisers had laid on for participants was apparently less than full, JC still seems optimistic.  We have , however  already shared many ideas with JC re clinical pharmacy and palliative care.

A thought for the day re pensions, life expectancy here risen to 62 years  retirement age 65!

Julie and Victoria