In the U.S. what we are doing would be totally illegal, in Africa it might help save a life. Five of us sit around the kitchen table, papers scattered, entering peoples medical records into a simple excel spreadsheet I created, HIPPA would not be happy.
It is amazing what you can learn from a person by simply reading a sheet of paper. Some of the medical conditions are amusing; a woman who has been trying to get pregnant for five years and doesn’t understand why she can’t even though she had her tubes tied five years ago, the elderly man that got in a fight with a coffee cup or the guy who described his skin as "rough pavement".
Most are sad, glimpses into lives wrought with pain and suffering; a man who is suffering from AIDS, worms, arthritis and a skin condition all at the same time, many malnourished children and the boy that had scabies on his feet and the prescription was simply “shoes” that he couldn’t afford.
Many of the conditions would put us straight in the hospital; here they are simply prescribed “Ibuprofen” “water” or “children’s vitamins” because they can’t afford anything else.
I think about all the complaining I’ve done over our medical system in the U.S. and I am beginning to find my complaining ridiculous. These people walk miles to see a nurse that may come to town once a month, if they are lucky, and still they receive far less than what they need to survive. And for the majority of my life, I've been able to drive less than 5 min to a hospital with the most advanced medical care in the world. I am able to receive medications, surgeries and care that will save my life while they never even have the opportunity to see a doctor with medical training.
As I flip over my 200th sheet of paper filled with the story of a 6 month old coughing up black, my heart aches for the children, mothers and fathers who are dying from curable diseases but just as much my heart aches for those back in the U.S. (includng myself) who constantly take everything they have for granted.
PS Here are some pictures from our Mozambique christmas party. We were so blessed with great food and great company..Santa even came to Africa!
Santa bringing our Secret Santa gifts (2 diet cokes!)
Team Sound with our stockings and Santa
Under the "hug mistletoe"
Christmas breakfast-French toast with chocolate sauce
