Some people come in with very minute
injuries and sicknesses like headaches, diarrhea, athlete’s foot and bruises.
In America, a lot of us wouldn’t see a doctor for these cases. But, I think the
reason people here attend the clinic for them is because they don’t always have
internet or knowledge about these things, so when they detect something
different or wrong with their body and seek medical attention. There were also
more serious cases like Tuberculosis (which is really prevalent here),
hypertension, hypoglycemia, and a deviated trachea which I got to see really
cool X-rays of. The trachea had shifted to the left lung either because of
fluid buildup or a tumor or mass of some sort that pushed it to the side. There
were lots of diabetic patients and patients who needed their blood drawn for
testing.
Going in on my first day I was super
nervous. I knew how busy the clinic was and was worried it would be too chaotic
for me to handle. The sisters (nurses are called sisters here) and the doctors
were all awesome and walked me through everything. It didn’t feel hectic at all.
The most challenging part for me was handling my emotions, especially when an
abandoned baby was brought in. The baby was left in front of a hospital and so
someone called a social worker who apparently gave the baby to a foster woman
and told her to take the baby to the clinic. No paperwork was involved and the
main nurse, Sister Castle, was extremely skeptical. Nevertheless, she said we
could not deny the baby her human right to medical care just because some
adults screwed up, and so she saw the baby. The baby was malnourished (with a
bloated stomach) and had an infection of the mouth which made it swollen and
bloody, so she couldn’t even eat. I don’t know how I didn’t cry when I saw that
baby. It literally took everything in me.
The clinic is incredible and all the
practicing doctors and nurses are absolutely amazing, but there are some
limitations. Everyone automatically assumes the guy in our group (there’s 3
other interns besides myself, 2 girls one guy) is the doctor and that the girls
are just nurses. I didn’t take offense to this because I know it’s generally
how it is down here but it was still a little upsetting. The biggest
difference I noticed is that they don’t wear gloves. Sister Castle said that
they ran out and that they don’t know when they will get them again since
funding is limited. It’s a little scary knowing how easily diseases spread and
knowing the prevalence of HIV. Resources are limited as far as medical
prescriptions and also technology goes. Everything is done manually and the filing
system is a little crazy. We spent some time filing in the afternoon. Each
patient has an identity number and filing is done by the last 3 digits. Within
the section of those last 3 digits you have to pick through each and every
folder looking for the one with the right chart. It’s really important that the
filing room stays on top of their game because they are ‘the engine’ of the
clinic. If they fall behind then the doctors and nurses can’t tend to the
patients without the chart and everything gets backed up.
Crime is a huge issue in the area
the clinic is located. In the middle of seeing a patient one of the doctors had
to leave all of a sudden because his house was getting broken into for a third
time which is really unfortunate because he’s such a good guy. A nurse then had
to step in and see his patients. Parks escorts us inside each day because the
street is really dangerous outside the clinic. It is a weird feeling, getting
escorted in.
I’m already learning so much by
observing during the patient consultations. I learned how to run an HIV test
and a glucose test on my first day! I can’t wait to go back for round two
next week.
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