Logistician Sanny: “I always keep the patients in mind”

Logistician Sanny, from Greek-Egyptian descent, describes herself as polyvalent and technical. She gained almost 10 years of work experience for another NGO before considering MSF. Her first MSF experience was handling the logistical part of a truck travelling from town to town throughout Greece for fundraising and awareness. After that, she applied for a position in the field. More than 8 years and 9 missions later, she shares her thoughts.

Which opportunities did you have to build a career in those 8 years?

MSF gives you the opportunity to grow quickly if you want to. I was deliberately slow in moving up the ladder. I wanted to do a couple of missions as a logistician, to understand the differences per project and to be sure I was ready. After three missions, I became a logistical team leader, a post that involved supervision of larger teams. Then I did a few short missions as a ‘mobile’ logistician, visiting several projects and sharing expertise, before finally moving on to deputy logistical coordinator and logistical coordinator. 

I actually prefer longer missions to emergency missions: it gives me time to understand the context, plan more long-term and see the national colleagues become more autonomous.

Can you explain what a logistician does in the field?

I realized the job was not what I had imagined at first: I thought I would be fixing generators or changing rims of cars, but actually there is much more administration involved. Strategy and technique are the main elements – depending on the type of project - but the job itself is so diverse: strategical planning, team coaching and shaping, adapting to the different contexts, risk analysis, etc. Not to mention the unforeseen work load: a power cut, a car that breaks down, a generator that stops working, satellite communication that goes slow, the printer that dies at a crucial moment: your team needs to fix it asap.  

What helps you in difficult moments during those long missions?

Sometimes, you are so caught up in your work that you forget why you are there: for the patients. Watching a patient stepping out of a health post or mobile clinic with a smile on their face, and knowing you contributed by getting them there safely, or by setting up the health structure: that is the most rewarding for me! On mission, I would try to find the time to step into the hospital and greet some patients. It would help me to take a step back and it would inspire me to come up with better solutions to technical problems. It makes me proud to play my part in providing them with the best quality care.

How do logisticians and medical staff work together?

When I arrive in a project, the medical staff are the first I consult. I have learned so much from them, like how the flow of patients in a hospital works. This being said, medical staff are a special species (laughs). When they need something, they will manage to find you wherever you are, explain their -always urgent- logistical need and make a strong case for it.  Your job is to weigh out how to help them: follow the guidelines and policies to the letter, which could take longer? Or decide if a ‘quick and dirty’ fix is better for the patient in that situation?

Can you give an example of medical and logistical staff working together?

A problem that often occurs in a hospital setting is the lack of space. There is maximum number of beds that you can place in a room, and the medical staff will want to help more patients, which could increase the risk of infections. A logistical solution can be to break down a wall, instead of constructing another structure next to it. Or to change the direction of the beds, allowing more space and better passage. Or take all the closets out of the room. It might not always be the best solution in the long run, but it will give you some breathing space until your long-term solution is ready.

Did you encounter cultural barriers?

As a female logistician in a male dominated profession? Yes, many times! Sometimes, cultural habits or language barriers can make your work challenging and hilarious at the same time. When I was introduced to my team of drivers on my first mission in the Central African Republic, the drivers all laughed as they found it strange to have a female team leader. Later that day, I invited them to a workshop where they had to change the tires and rims of the cars. None of them could do it. I had to teach them how and I gained their respect by showing off my skills and by demonstrating my sense of humor. In Afghanistan, it was actually easier to win over the (all-male) team, by giving them a lot of responsibilities, confiding in them, involving them in decisions and listening to them.

Has your motivation changed over the 8 years working for MSF?

My courage has grown in all those years, as well as my energy. It is challenging to do this type of work. You have to leave everything behind, make a home somewhere else or find your own place in the team. Every time I leave again, I am a bit afraid, especially when I go to an unstable environment. But that is where the patients are who need us. To help them is my motivation.

What qualities should an MSF logistician have?

You need to be a good listener, have a lot of patience, and always have the beneficiaries in the back of your head. You also need to be flexible and come up with different solutions. You might know many of the logistical fields very well but the hard part is adapting it to the reality of the context. How is the security situation? Will we have problems on the local market? Are the roads accessible during rainy season?

You should also never forget that you are a visitor to the country and that you should show respect by following the rules and adapting to their culture.