Portfolio entry for the LOTS block...
Hospital day provides an opportunity for medical students to be exposed to the challenges posed by the healthcare system in South Africa. It creates a sense of social responsibility to the millions of people that rely on the public health care system in this country. To be honest, it can be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster at times. There are times when it is difficult to see the challenges that everyone keeps telling us about. However, in the renal ward at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital it is often difficult to come to terms with the reality that many doctors face.
There are just 120 places for haemodialysis and 80 places for peritoneal dialysis for the whole of Johannesburg. Many patients are excluded based on a long list of qualifying factors. It’s something that is very difficult to accept, because renal failure is not a disease that can be treated with medication. Those that are not part of the lucky few are sent home to die, while private hospitals house dialysis machines that are not always used. To me it seems an unethical practice to let machines go unused. There needs to be a point where human life is valued above money.
When visiting Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital the same issues seemed to be staring me in the face. Orthapaedic patients were being forced to wait more than a year and a half to receive life-altering surgeries. Often people coming to the orthapaedic out patients department have restricted abilities that prevent them from going to work. Not being able to help them timeously adversely affects both them and their families. It creates this cycle of poverty where the poor are unable to work and the rich continuously complain that the country cannot function adequately when only around 10% of the population is paying tax. [1] It creates the perception that the NHI would not work in this country; that it will augment the exodus of the educated few to “greener pastures”.
Medicine is not a profession that should be undertaken in the pursuit of money. By nature, helping people should be done with the intent of helping them, with a complete disregard for cost. In fact, helping people often incurs a personal cost. And there are people that show their true faces in public healthcare, unscarred by the make-up of private healthcare. There are organisations, such as the smile foundation, which help correct cleft lips and palates, free of charge. Perhaps it seems a little unrealistic to wish for a state where health care is free and of a high standard, but is it not something that we should be striving toward?
Recently, while a lecturer was explaining the intricacies of the South African healthcare system, a few students brought up the topic of the NHI. It seemed that their main concern was about how it would affect their income, a clear sign that most were already planning to go into private practice. I have no problem in making them feel guilty. I don’t think that they should be able to live with the fact that they are essentially deserting the millions of people in this country that rely on public healthcare. Perhaps I am different to most of my current GEMP I class, but to be honest, I shouldn’t be.
The issue of private and public is one that is very close to my heart. The discrepancies in resource allocation mean that many people are left without any healthcare, while doctors and hospital administrators of private institutions live lavish lives. I think that it is time that the university began to push the social responsibility aspect of medicine in general. Hopefully those in my class will begin to see that there is more to medicine than money because, if they don’t, the future of healthcare in this country is in the wrong hands.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
The illusion of easter and other holidays
I suppose that I should start off with the fact that I am rather against religion in general. Religion has never done anything beneficial throughout human history. The only thing that it has done is given people a reason to kill each other over differences in belief.
I am not quite sure why good friday and easter monday are holidays in this country. Jewish and Muslim people do not get public holidays for their religious occasions. I am not sure why there should be "preferential treatment" in a sense. Rather don't have any religious public holidays, it helps to promote unity and non-discrimination.
SA team selections are in and I am going to France in August :). I can't wait, although the nerves are already starting to set in.
I am almost finished my latest portfolio entry. Will post it once I am finished.
Some of my new favourite quotes:
Unrequited love is a waste of time. Just walk it off. There. I said it.
Sorry, I think you mean "who," not, "whom". People WHO correct grammar in casual conversation are obnoxious. Now run along. Men are talking.
I can be happy alone, sure. I can be happy without ice cream, too. If we're being hypothetical.
I think you are beautiful and I would like to kiss you. I can think up some clever lines, if you'd prefer. But I wanted to say that first.
I have super powers and a costume. Every night I panic just outside my door, but every night I try again.
I am not quite sure why good friday and easter monday are holidays in this country. Jewish and Muslim people do not get public holidays for their religious occasions. I am not sure why there should be "preferential treatment" in a sense. Rather don't have any religious public holidays, it helps to promote unity and non-discrimination.
SA team selections are in and I am going to France in August :). I can't wait, although the nerves are already starting to set in.
I am almost finished my latest portfolio entry. Will post it once I am finished.
Some of my new favourite quotes:
Unrequited love is a waste of time. Just walk it off. There. I said it.
Sorry, I think you mean "who," not, "whom". People WHO correct grammar in casual conversation are obnoxious. Now run along. Men are talking.
I can be happy alone, sure. I can be happy without ice cream, too. If we're being hypothetical.
I think you are beautiful and I would like to kiss you. I can think up some clever lines, if you'd prefer. But I wanted to say that first.
I have super powers and a costume. Every night I panic just outside my door, but every night I try again.
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Important Things in Life
There are three important things in life:
(1) University
(2) Orienteering (or sport in general)
(3) Relationships
These three things form the basis of every person's everyday life. It's very difficult to have a conversation where you do not talk about at least one (or in my case, all three). My memory is often so bad that I think that sometimes I say the same things over and over again in a conversation (they must have been important, right?).
For me, university is almost taking a back seat at the moment. I always wonder what it would be like to study something different, even though I am enjoying what I am doing. In high school I used to love creative writing, getting the opportunity to just make up a story (and perhaps wish that you were living it). There is more to life than university (which is what many people fail to understand). In three and a half years time, when I finish, things are not going to get any easier. I will not suddenly have time to do the things that I have always wanted to. It's time to do them now. Which brings me to:
Sport has become something that I live for. I go through stages where training is a bit dreary, but then after a weekend like this past weekend I have this sudden surge in enthusiasm, like I can train for 4 hours every day. I spend the whole day looking at old maps and looking at route choices. It's something that I wish that I could do every day. Sport opens so many opportunities. For example, this year I get to go to some obscure part of France. I would have never been able to see the things that I will see. My coach is under the impression that orienteers and adventure racers often see things that even the local farmers have not. It's also provides the opportunity to meet people, and fantastic people at that.
Which brings me to my next point. Relationships are the axis around which most of us live our lives. Always trying to impress someone so that you will be noticed, giving a casual glance after an action to check for approval. Perhaps it is not the best way to live life, but it does keep you in line in a certain respect. I have met some of the most amazing people through my sport (both orienteering here and overseas). You meet people that are always there to give good advice, people that are there to give a word of encouragement when you feel terrible and then there are the people that you just wish that you could spend more time with. Perhaps it would be regarded as girlfriend potential, but I am going to avoid that completely and say that I mean someone that I can talk to. And really talk to, not the usual small talk that we are all used to. I am not necessarily asking not to be judged on what I have to say, that is often too much to ask :). But I suppose this brings up the topic of who you should and shouldn't be "friends" with ("friends" is my new definition). It's difficult to be close to someone when everyone around you is looking for the latest gossip or even encouraging you to see something that perhaps isn't there (I often don't need other people, I tend to make odd conclusions all on my own). I just want someone to talk to damnit! Don't read into it (as I am always told as well). [worse could be someone reading this and thinking that I am talking about them, I am talking about someone, but is it you?)
I had an awesome weekend in Cape Town. Was great to be able to run in the forest again! Managed to win the SA sprint champs (my goal race of the season) and picked up a second place in the long. The middle was a bit of a nightmare, but oh well. The Hi Tec Infinity challenge takes place tomorrow and then there is the UJ sprint event on Sunday. Looking forward to it and hopefully I can do well this weekend.
SA Sprint Champs (V and A Waterfront)
WC Middle (Grabouw)
WC Long (Grabouw)
(1) University
(2) Orienteering (or sport in general)
(3) Relationships
These three things form the basis of every person's everyday life. It's very difficult to have a conversation where you do not talk about at least one (or in my case, all three). My memory is often so bad that I think that sometimes I say the same things over and over again in a conversation (they must have been important, right?).
For me, university is almost taking a back seat at the moment. I always wonder what it would be like to study something different, even though I am enjoying what I am doing. In high school I used to love creative writing, getting the opportunity to just make up a story (and perhaps wish that you were living it). There is more to life than university (which is what many people fail to understand). In three and a half years time, when I finish, things are not going to get any easier. I will not suddenly have time to do the things that I have always wanted to. It's time to do them now. Which brings me to:
Sport has become something that I live for. I go through stages where training is a bit dreary, but then after a weekend like this past weekend I have this sudden surge in enthusiasm, like I can train for 4 hours every day. I spend the whole day looking at old maps and looking at route choices. It's something that I wish that I could do every day. Sport opens so many opportunities. For example, this year I get to go to some obscure part of France. I would have never been able to see the things that I will see. My coach is under the impression that orienteers and adventure racers often see things that even the local farmers have not. It's also provides the opportunity to meet people, and fantastic people at that.
Which brings me to my next point. Relationships are the axis around which most of us live our lives. Always trying to impress someone so that you will be noticed, giving a casual glance after an action to check for approval. Perhaps it is not the best way to live life, but it does keep you in line in a certain respect. I have met some of the most amazing people through my sport (both orienteering here and overseas). You meet people that are always there to give good advice, people that are there to give a word of encouragement when you feel terrible and then there are the people that you just wish that you could spend more time with. Perhaps it would be regarded as girlfriend potential, but I am going to avoid that completely and say that I mean someone that I can talk to. And really talk to, not the usual small talk that we are all used to. I am not necessarily asking not to be judged on what I have to say, that is often too much to ask :). But I suppose this brings up the topic of who you should and shouldn't be "friends" with ("friends" is my new definition). It's difficult to be close to someone when everyone around you is looking for the latest gossip or even encouraging you to see something that perhaps isn't there (I often don't need other people, I tend to make odd conclusions all on my own). I just want someone to talk to damnit! Don't read into it (as I am always told as well). [worse could be someone reading this and thinking that I am talking about them, I am talking about someone, but is it you?)
I had an awesome weekend in Cape Town. Was great to be able to run in the forest again! Managed to win the SA sprint champs (my goal race of the season) and picked up a second place in the long. The middle was a bit of a nightmare, but oh well. The Hi Tec Infinity challenge takes place tomorrow and then there is the UJ sprint event on Sunday. Looking forward to it and hopefully I can do well this weekend.
SA Sprint Champs (V and A Waterfront)
WC Long (Grabouw)
Monday, April 11, 2011
When you're through thinking say yes
I am just back from an awesome weekend in Cape Town. I went down for the SA sprint championships as well as middle and classic courses in the Grabouw State forest. Was a really awesome change to the monotony of third year. I am not sure how some people can live with just spending every day studying. I could not spend the rest of my life just doing medicine. It's not because I don't enjoy it, it is more that it is at times emotionally draining and sometimes difficult to see past the bad things that happen.
Another interesting topic came up last week. Would you ask your girlfriend to have an HIV test before you dated them? (Assuming that you would also have one yourself, I am not trying to be sexist) I would almost take it further and say that would you test yourself every few months while in a relationship? (I suppose that this point is more applicable to medical professionals that are exposed to the risk of infection every day, but could be extended to some other people...) I would, but perhaps it is more to do with the fact that I would never want to put my significant other at risk. I would also get the HPV vaccine...
Life can be difficult and complicated sometimes. Often it is quite easy to figure out what you want out life, but your decisions affect other people. It's easy to make split second decisions and take actions that you regret, not because they were not the right thing to do, but because you changed something. You changed a friendship or changed someone's view of you. It's difficult to imagine that one action could change everything, I am more concerned about it changing for the worse though...
I am listening to the new album by Yellowcard. Perhaps it is related to the above, but seriously... When you're through thinking, say yes!
"We are responsible with our patients. The problem is we blow it all out at work. In our own lives, we can't think things through. We don't make the sound choice. We did that all day at the hospital. When it comes to ourselves, we've got nothing left. And is it worth it—being responsible? Because if you take your vitamins and pay your taxes and never cut the line, the universe still gives you people to love and then lets them slip through your fingers like water, and then what have you got? Vitamins and nothing."
"If I could fly I would never land. I would be free. One day I'll realise that's a metaphor, not a fantasy."
Another interesting topic came up last week. Would you ask your girlfriend to have an HIV test before you dated them? (Assuming that you would also have one yourself, I am not trying to be sexist) I would almost take it further and say that would you test yourself every few months while in a relationship? (I suppose that this point is more applicable to medical professionals that are exposed to the risk of infection every day, but could be extended to some other people...) I would, but perhaps it is more to do with the fact that I would never want to put my significant other at risk. I would also get the HPV vaccine...
Life can be difficult and complicated sometimes. Often it is quite easy to figure out what you want out life, but your decisions affect other people. It's easy to make split second decisions and take actions that you regret, not because they were not the right thing to do, but because you changed something. You changed a friendship or changed someone's view of you. It's difficult to imagine that one action could change everything, I am more concerned about it changing for the worse though...
I am listening to the new album by Yellowcard. Perhaps it is related to the above, but seriously... When you're through thinking, say yes!
"We are responsible with our patients. The problem is we blow it all out at work. In our own lives, we can't think things through. We don't make the sound choice. We did that all day at the hospital. When it comes to ourselves, we've got nothing left. And is it worth it—being responsible? Because if you take your vitamins and pay your taxes and never cut the line, the universe still gives you people to love and then lets them slip through your fingers like water, and then what have you got? Vitamins and nothing."
"If I could fly I would never land. I would be free. One day I'll realise that's a metaphor, not a fantasy."
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