I am sitting at my computer about to power down to leave for the airport. So much is going through my head now. Do I really need to bring 2 books to read? Will I need more socks? What about my cloths, will they be appropriate and modest? I wish I had more access to medicines to bring and had thought a head a bit more on that. What will meeting my team members in Atlanta be like? I hope I can sleep a bit on the flight! I remembered to pay my rent today.
Thanks to my family and friends for all their support and encouragement. I couldn't do this without you all. I can't wait to tell you more...
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Doubts...
Today I had a thought go through my mind in regards to the patients I am about to encounter in Afghanistan. What if I need a tool/test that is not available to diagnose a condition? Here in the ED, I have almost every imaginable test at my fingertip to use. These tests allow me to rule out many bad conditions thanks to CT, EKG's, or blood work. I wondered, would I be as effective of a doctor without them?
Those questions and doubt are the words of the enemy trying to discourage me and I won't have it! I had to talk myself out of that thought process and remind myself that I have completed medical school and residency and am a good doctor. The basics of medicine are somewhere in my head and just need to be recalled. Infectious diseases and basic OB care will be the majority of what we will see. I guess I hope there might be some trauma-related cases as well. I trust there will be lots I can do, even within the limits of the situation.
Below is the information describing my trips background, goals and mission. I think is does a good job of explaining many of the questions I have been asked about the trip.
Afghanistan - April 30th – May 14th 2010
Shattered by 22 years of USSR occupation, civil war, Taliban misrule and the US-led invasion in 2002 – Afghanistan is a country rebuilding from a countryside that was bombed and mined; loosing half the housing; most of the complex irrigation systems; a high proportion of the livestock were destroyed and millions of people were displaced in there own country. The entire country lacked infra structure and the ability to deal with the loss of all institutions including governmental agencies, schools and universities, police, transportation, a healthcare system, etc. Rebuilding the country is slowed by the lack of funds, lawlessness and fractionalization.
The character of the Afghan people is exemplified by a sense of pride, bravery, hospitality, generosity and loyalty. When invited to an Afghan home, a guest is treated with the utmost respect and honor. Afghans will share whatever they have with a friend.
Our national partners SOZO International have a wholistic outreach to empower the most disadvantaged individuals and communities by coordinating and implementing transformational development through healthcare, education, and economic initiatives.
This will be the eigth year that I have had the joy of leading a GHO team into Afghanistan. Many of the NGOs that were in Afghanistan five years ago have left in spite of the great need. It is clear that those who continue to serve and care for the least, the lost and the last are welcomed with open arms and will reap the harvest.
The decades of civil turmoil and war have, most obviously, left there mark on Afghan women and children:
• 1 of every 12 mothers die from a complication of childbirth.
• 1 of every 4 children die before they celebrate their 5th birthday.
• Life expectancy is 42 years – 35 of which are “healthy.”
We always have an urgent need in Afghanistan for females on our healthcare team physicians, PAs, NPs, dentists and nurses to supplement the males because if we do not have a good number of ladies on the team, the Afghan women will not be allowed to come to the clinics and then the children will not come. Afghan women culturally need to be treated by ladies for the most part.
Our efforts in Afghanistan over the past 8 years have been to provide emergency, ongoing relief, healthcare for the Internally Displaced People and train Afghan doctors as we come along side of our national partners in their great work. Helping and encouraging the communities like Istalif to heal itself and see them assume responsibility through wholistic, transformational development primarily through healthcare initiatives has been a real blessing. IDPs are refugees in there own country and we have had great joy in being able to help the people in Shaka Dara and Barek Aub as SOZO moves forward with permanent housing, education and economic initiative in partnership with these communities.
Those questions and doubt are the words of the enemy trying to discourage me and I won't have it! I had to talk myself out of that thought process and remind myself that I have completed medical school and residency and am a good doctor. The basics of medicine are somewhere in my head and just need to be recalled. Infectious diseases and basic OB care will be the majority of what we will see. I guess I hope there might be some trauma-related cases as well. I trust there will be lots I can do, even within the limits of the situation.
Below is the information describing my trips background, goals and mission. I think is does a good job of explaining many of the questions I have been asked about the trip.
Afghanistan - April 30th – May 14th 2010
Shattered by 22 years of USSR occupation, civil war, Taliban misrule and the US-led invasion in 2002 – Afghanistan is a country rebuilding from a countryside that was bombed and mined; loosing half the housing; most of the complex irrigation systems; a high proportion of the livestock were destroyed and millions of people were displaced in there own country. The entire country lacked infra structure and the ability to deal with the loss of all institutions including governmental agencies, schools and universities, police, transportation, a healthcare system, etc. Rebuilding the country is slowed by the lack of funds, lawlessness and fractionalization.
The character of the Afghan people is exemplified by a sense of pride, bravery, hospitality, generosity and loyalty. When invited to an Afghan home, a guest is treated with the utmost respect and honor. Afghans will share whatever they have with a friend.
Our national partners SOZO International have a wholistic outreach to empower the most disadvantaged individuals and communities by coordinating and implementing transformational development through healthcare, education, and economic initiatives.
This will be the eigth year that I have had the joy of leading a GHO team into Afghanistan. Many of the NGOs that were in Afghanistan five years ago have left in spite of the great need. It is clear that those who continue to serve and care for the least, the lost and the last are welcomed with open arms and will reap the harvest.
The decades of civil turmoil and war have, most obviously, left there mark on Afghan women and children:
• 1 of every 12 mothers die from a complication of childbirth.
• 1 of every 4 children die before they celebrate their 5th birthday.
• Life expectancy is 42 years – 35 of which are “healthy.”
We always have an urgent need in Afghanistan for females on our healthcare team physicians, PAs, NPs, dentists and nurses to supplement the males because if we do not have a good number of ladies on the team, the Afghan women will not be allowed to come to the clinics and then the children will not come. Afghan women culturally need to be treated by ladies for the most part.
Our efforts in Afghanistan over the past 8 years have been to provide emergency, ongoing relief, healthcare for the Internally Displaced People and train Afghan doctors as we come along side of our national partners in their great work. Helping and encouraging the communities like Istalif to heal itself and see them assume responsibility through wholistic, transformational development primarily through healthcare initiatives has been a real blessing. IDPs are refugees in there own country and we have had great joy in being able to help the people in Shaka Dara and Barek Aub as SOZO moves forward with permanent housing, education and economic initiative in partnership with these communities.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
T-minus 5 days and counting...
Team members are being reminded to be very sensitive; culturally and spiritually, in all our communications. They are asking us to watch what we say and write home about. You will probably not hear me talk much about spiritually issues and reflections after this on the blog just to be safe. My prayer is our mission will be to show LOVE to all the Afghans we come into contact with.
In preparation, I just read a fairly simplified description of Islam and its comparison to Christianity. The one thing that stood out to me was the difference in the characteristics of God. To quote Bruce and Stan, "Allah of Qur'an only loves those he deems as good; the God of the Bible loves all humanity, none of whom are basically good". What an assurance to know that little ol', fallible me is loved unconditionally!
I really feel I am providentially being prepared for this trip. The coincidences and connections to Afghanistan are bombarding me every day. I am so trying to keep all the information straight. I was able to check out the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit last night. These documents, that were written around the time of Christ, are even older than the religion of Islam which started in about 600 A.D. It was neat to feel the timelessness of Bible. The Omnitheater was also showing a film on Arabia. Part of the film showed images of Mecca and Muslims on pilgrimage, which is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. I am struggling to find the right word to describe what 2 million people bowing before a black cube and rotating around it 7 times looks like. You've gotta just check it out for yourselves.
In preparation, I just read a fairly simplified description of Islam and its comparison to Christianity. The one thing that stood out to me was the difference in the characteristics of God. To quote Bruce and Stan, "Allah of Qur'an only loves those he deems as good; the God of the Bible loves all humanity, none of whom are basically good". What an assurance to know that little ol', fallible me is loved unconditionally!
I really feel I am providentially being prepared for this trip. The coincidences and connections to Afghanistan are bombarding me every day. I am so trying to keep all the information straight. I was able to check out the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit last night. These documents, that were written around the time of Christ, are even older than the religion of Islam which started in about 600 A.D. It was neat to feel the timelessness of Bible. The Omnitheater was also showing a film on Arabia. Part of the film showed images of Mecca and Muslims on pilgrimage, which is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. I am struggling to find the right word to describe what 2 million people bowing before a black cube and rotating around it 7 times looks like. You've gotta just check it out for yourselves.
Friday, April 23, 2010
So I have been trying to prepare myself, as much as one can, for this Afghanistan experience. Prior to the last several weeks, my knowledge of this area of the world was virtually nothing. This picture above was probably the only image in my head of Afghanistan. The photo draws you in and you want to know more. So being the proactive person I am... I have tried to do as much as I can to learn about Afghanistan. Initially my interest in Afghanistan was piqued after reading Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristoff. The book was referenced to me after my time in Congo. His discussion of demarginalized women around the world was very enlightening to me. When I learned that the country with the worse fetal mortality rate in the work was Afghanistan, as well as the oppression women endured there; my eyes began to open.
I also read several books - both fiction and non about Afghanistan. Books like Thousand Splendid Suns and Three Cups of Tea were helpful at painting a picture of what Afghan women endure. I really struggled to get my head around the differences. Things like the agony of having a daughter for a child and the sentance of an arranged marriage to a man twice my age are absolutely foreign to my consciousness. I just cannot relate, but my heart is heavy for women who have experienced these situations.
Documentaries and movies have also given me visuals of the landscapes and cultural traditions. These have been both fascinating and revolting. A couple Frontline series about Afghanistan actually made me doubt of the decision I had made to go. A bit of perspective brought me back to reality when I thought about the deep dark secrets of every country and culture that noone talks about open. We have them here in the states and you all can think if a couple of examples I'm sure.
So now that I am arm with a bit of information - which is probably more dangerous that complete ignorance. But feel I am ready. I have my visa, passport and my "modest" wardrobe. One week from now I will be flying 14 hours to Dubai. Just hope I don't get a PE.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
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