BOB Handby will be spending Christmas sweating in the heat of west Africa helping combat the spread of Ebola instead of the cool Port Fairy sea breeze with his family.
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The 64-year-old former Moyne Shire health manager left Australia yesterday for Red Cross headquarters in Geneva for intense briefing sessions before flying into Sierra Leone next week where he will help improve and maintain water quality, sanitation and body transport.
He’s no stranger to working in crisis zones having previously been on more than 50 foreign assignments to war and disease zones in several countries, his first being to Uganda 30 years ago.
“I’ve been away on my birthday several times, but never away at Christmas,” he said.
“To help my eight grandchildren cope with me being away, I’ve promised to take them all for a holiday in March.
“I’m excited about going back to Africa, although it will be my first time in the west.”
He’s undaunted by the hype around Ebola which has killed almost 5000 people this year, but is bracing himself for the challenges of wearing a full-protection body suit while working in the hot, humid climate.
When he returns to Australia early next month he will be placed in isolation for three weeks, either in his home or somewhere close to Melbourne.
“I was approached by Red Cross and agreed about two months ago to go and assist,” he said.
“There are other workers on one-month rotating rosters who wanted time off at Christmas so I’ve stepped in to meet the shortage.
“My role will be to make sure water supply is reliable and properly chlorinated, to supervise waste management and the return of bodies to communities.
“There are two water and sanitation experts plus about 60 locals assisting.”
His first assignment will be at a 60-bed Red Cross field hospital near Kenema and may also be assigned to help establish another hospital in an Ebola zone at Kailahun near the borders with Guinea and Liberia.
“I could be required to help assess land and access to water supply,” he explained.
“In Ebola areas, you want to have the hospitals close to the victims rather than having them travel to distant hospitals on public buses.”
A Red Cross spokesman told The Standard Mr Handby was one of Australia’s most experienced and down-to-earth aid workers.
“Access to clean water and sanitation facilities is a vital part of getting Ebola under control,” the spokesman said.
To donate to the Red Cross Ebola appeal go to www.redcross.org.au or call 1800 811 700.
