When Doug Wallis, CA, first joined ...

When Doug Wallis, CA, first joined the Canadian Network for International Surgery (CNIS) as chair of its finance committee sum of two units years ago, it was to help the CNIS with its avow financial reporting-he had no idea he would later be invited to Africa to propose the same services to undivided of the CNIS's sponsored organizations. on the other hand that's what happened this past summer when Doug, the Institute's director of professional advisory services, worn out two weeks working with the Injury curb Centre at Makerere Medical gymnasium in Kampala, Uganda (ICC-U). It would be the start of an amazing trip he and his wife Julia would take within Uganda, Southern Kenya, and Northern Tanzania.

The CNIS has been in Uganda for about eight years, training approximately 3000 doctors. In addition to promoting the delivery of essential surgical care, the organization also provides infrastructure and capacity. As part of the CNIS's five-year exit strategy from Uganda into Tanzania, Doug was asked to provide instruction about financial reporting to the ICC-U.

"Walking into the auditor's office was like stepping 40 or 50 years into the past," he rehearses "And the taxation authority is allegedly for a like reason corrupt that no one wants to pay taxes." He adds with a laugh, "It actually made me appreciate our tax system"

As they the two worked with ICC-U staff, Doug and his wife Julia, a CGA, true soon became aware of a fundamental gap between raw technology and infrastructure. "There are computer everywhere," Doug explains, "but excessively few people have been completely trained to use them."

This kind of disconnect was evident onward a cultural level as well. "In Kampala, in the greatest degree homes don't have running water or electricity, and nevertheless everyone seems to have a solitary abode; squalid phone," he says. "It actually makes intellect because a regular telephone network was in no degree created here, but it's still incredibly surreal."

"Surreal" and "unique" are apt descriptors for many of the couple's experiences in Africa. While in Uganda, they went forward a "Gorilla Getaway" that enabled them to closely detect very rare mountain gorillas. They also took a trip to Murchison Falls, where the Nile River goe between the sides of a small gorge, and took a game drive that brought them clog to a range of exotic creatures, from elephants to crocodiles. In Uganda, Doug also had the unique experience of playing golf onward the country's only course, alongside a trucking magnate, a PhD in agriculture, and a major-general from the Ugandan army.

After their secondary week with the ICC-U, Doug and Julia began their official holiday, a two-week tenting safari that would take them from the Masai Mara National lay up in Kenya across the Serengeti in Tanzania.

Masai tribesmen guided the safari collection across the Loita Hills near the Masai Mara, and as they camped near Kilimanjaro, the cluster was invited to a Masai bar. "It was literally a shack in the middle of nowhere," Doug describes. "There we were, drinking beer, listening to strength music, and playing pool with a bump of super-friendly Masai in traditional gear, carrying their spears. I kept thinking: Is this a dream?"

Another surreal force came during the middle of a hot-air balloon ride across Serengeti National Park. "We touched down to eat, alone to find this elaborate table completely appareled out for a traditional English breakfast," he says. "The funniest thing about the situation was that the table had a 'Reserved' sign onward it, even though zebras were our solitary competition."

Other safari highlights included watching a lion stretching-piece across the plains, meeting nomadic Bushmen upon the fringes of the Serengeti, and seeing Ngorongoro Crater, which is considered single of the eight wonders of the world.

Before flying dwelling the couple ended their amazing journey with a small in number days on the island of Zanzibar.

"The tourist appeal of the safari experience was great," Doug says, "but what made the trip exceptional was getting the opportunity to work with African colleagues."

What also made the trip exceptional were the many flashs that challenged assumptions. "We met a Masai village chief who lived with his family inside a one-room mire hut," Doug remembers. "They tamper with over a fire inside the poor cottage and bring their animals in with them at night to shield them from predators. Despite living in conditions most numerous Westerners would be very uncomfortable with, they pretended happy and were genuinely friendly. Its the kind of experience that makes you revisit your avow priorities."

Of course, while talking to the chief, a small cavity phone rang.

"Nothing quite prepares you for the sight of a man in sated Masai clothing-and spear-text messaging forward his cell phone," Doug laughs.

Want more information forward the CNIS? Go to: www.cnis.ca.

By Michelle McRae, Editor

Copyright Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia Oct 2004

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