As I’m sure a lot of you know, before leaving America for the world race I was a nurse assistant at a hospital. I’ve always felt the call to nursing and plan on eventually becoming a nurse midwife. I love all things medical.
As I’m sure a lot of you don’t know-travel days suck. They take a lot out of you, and lots of people end up getting sick after traveling. I’ve never really had the problem of getting sick (thank you hospital for a strong immune system!) but this last travel day kicked my butt.
I ran out of water, survived off warm coke, and held my pee for hours until we finally found a “toilet” to use (which we had to pay to use, and they didn’t even have toilet paper or a place to wash our hands.)
After 3 hours on a bumpy road, I felt nauseous and crampy. Granted, we were squished together with bags under our feet, but this was a rough feeling. At one point I had my head sticking out the window, and I knew my body was about to reject the burger I’d just eaten.
Thankfully I survived until we made it to the village and ate breakfast the next morning, then my body decided to crap out. Well not literally, unfortunately for me. I hadn’t pooped in 4 days and was throwing up, feeling dizzy and lightheaded, and was feeling extremely exhausted-more so than usual after a travel day.
Another squad mate, Adam, was having the symptoms of malaria, so they were planning on taking him to the clinic. A leader convinced me to go with them, and that’s where my story really begins.
The doctor could barely understand me, and you pretty much had to tell him what your symptoms were and what you believe you had. If it hadn’t been for one of the alumni squad leaders with me, I wouldn’t have received any help and probably would’ve cried. But thankfully Rob was there and told him I needed fluids, so that’s exactly what I got.
The doctor took the biggest needle he could find and jabbed it in my hand, blood was flowing everywhere and there was very little sanitation…first of all, why would you go for the hand, and secondly why would you use a 16 gauge needle?! Finally he got the IV all set up and I just sat there watching how medical care was given in Malawi.
Let me tell you this sad truth-HIV is preventable through precautionary measures, and none of those measures are taken in the village clinics.
I watched a nurse wear the same gloves while running from patient to patient, cleaning up blood, touching supplies, etc. The. Same. Pair. Of. Gloves. Y’all know that defeats the purpose of even wearing them, right? As a healthcare provider you wear gloves for two reasons: one is to protect yourself, and the second is to protect your patients.
Another squad mate had to get stitches, and the nurse said, “I must tell you, this needle is not sterile. We’ve cleaned it, but it’s been used before.”
Y’all, this is why HIV is running rampant throughout Africa. They lack education and supplies.
These things are preventable. We need to educate these nurses and doctors who care for the low income patients.
Please pray for people to come to these rural places and teach the medical staff how to properly sanitize and care for patients in a efficient manner. Pray for an influx of supplies to find their way here. Pray for health and prosperity. Pray for Africa and their healthcare system.
