Amref's Katine project manager leaves post

It was a nostalgic evening in the sub-county last Thursday, as the African Medical and Research Foundation's (Amref) Katine team bid farewell to their manager, Oscar Okech, describing his departure as a "big loss". Okech, who has managed the project in Katine for two years, said his contract was not being renewed because he wanted to return to his home in Karamoja to serve his people in the run up to the 2011 parliamentary elections. He was described by the team as a "shock absorber" and a "buffer stock" (a buffer stock is a portion of produce usually kept aside to offset a crisis), who always sought to shield members from outside pressures and help provide solutions to any problems. He was called patient, widely read and a kind manager who gave an ear to all the staff's views without "losing his 'head". "Oscar was my manager, but at the same time he was my assistant because the empowerment component is demanding and whenever I got stuck, Oscar was there to help me out. Now that he is gone, life is going to be hard," said Richard Opesen, the community empowerment officer. "However much pressure we received, it never got to us, the juniors, [junior project officers] because Oscar was always there to act as a shock absorber. When we ran out of ideas he was always our buffer stock," said David Ogwang, project assistant for the livelihoods component. As each staff member stood up to give his or her view about Okech's work, there was, naturally, some concern about the running of the project for the final year and a half. The team needs a manager with distinguished virtues to stir up each member to realise the project objectives over the next 18 months, particularly as Amref focuses on sustainability and its exit strategy. Ediau Ewadu, vice-chairman of Soroti district council, who attended the event, warned staff against resigning just because a manager has chosen to move on. He said the staff ought to take advantage of the vacuum created to deliver their best. Emmanuel Okech, Katine local government office assistant, represented the sub-county authorities at the event. Joseph Otim, Amref's health project officer, equated Okech's departure to the drug gentamicin. The drug is given to patients when the doctor is not clear about what the patient could be suffering from, to keep them going until the right treatment is found. Gentamicin is out of stock and Otim encouraged his colleagues to look out for an alternative. Lillian Viko, Amref's education project officer, will become acting manager while a permanent person is sought for the role.