South Africa Day 2: Experiencing The Yin And The Yang
The delegation on medicine started with 3 lectures educating us on South Africa's medical system and the current health problems the country is facing. These are the frightening facts we learned: of the 44 million people inhabiting South Africa 6 million of those have been diagnosed with AIDS (the largest group of people in the world), 57% of those infected are female, and by the year 2010 2 million children will have been orphaned due to the virus.
Also, South Africa possesses the highest rate of violence against women in any country not involved in war and 50% of the population has TB. The ugliness that exists in this beautiful country is truly incomprehensible.
We then made a site visit to the Valley Trust Rural Medical Center, which also had a school attached to it.
The outside of the school at the Valley Trust Rural Medical Center.
Some adorable school children we encountered.
There we met with the head nurse todiscuss rural health care issues. Because of the shortage of doctorsin South Africa, most nurses have to act as doctors, while still onlygetting paid a nurse's salary. That particular nurse saw 300-400patients a day. I can not imagine a more emotionally draining job. She lamented that at her clinic they actually have enough medication togive to the patients, but that no one will take it, because then theother people in their community will know that they are sick. Thesaddest story was that of the milk formula that spoils with time due tothe lack of mothers that will accept it. Instead of risking the chanceof people in the community finding out that they have AIDS, they wouldrather breast feed their infants and risk the chance of infecting themwith AIDS.
The head nurse telling us about her life.
Sadly, many of these condoms simply expire, since they are rarely used.
All of my previous thoughts about being a marine mammal in a past life were reinforced as I floated in the Indian Ocean during my late afternoon break. I had never felt more alive, which only proved that I must have been a fish, or a dolphin, or even a seahorse in a past life! I must admit that I was nervous knowing that even though the requisite shark nets were up; 1200 were caught in the last year alone. Nonetheless, I swam out as far as I could and let the therapeutic warm water melt away all of my tensions.
A post-card picture of the Dolphin Coast.
The sun setting on the Indian Ocean.
Due to the sugar slave trade in the 19th century, Durban is now home to the largest number of Indians besides India, since they were used for indentured labor. Sarah and I immediately became friends with a man in our group (a fellow New Yorker), Ankit, who happened to be of Indian heritage. He found a lovely Indian restaurant for us to have dinner at and made some excellent recommendations.
After the spicy meal, we decided to comfort our throats with some more Hansa at a bar down the street named Joe Cool's. Despite my best efforts, I lost every game of pool I played and to make matters worse, while I was losing, my camera was stolen. Both were not so cool, but if you learn only one thing in Africa, it is to not sweat the small stuff in life.
My new friend, Evan, giving me a consolatory hug after losing yet another round of pool AND my
camera.
Also, South Africa possesses the highest rate of violence against women in any country not involved in war and 50% of the population has TB. The ugliness that exists in this beautiful country is truly incomprehensible.
We then made a site visit to the Valley Trust Rural Medical Center, which also had a school attached to it.
The outside of the school at the Valley Trust Rural Medical Center.
Some adorable school children we encountered.
There we met with the head nurse todiscuss rural health care issues. Because of the shortage of doctorsin South Africa, most nurses have to act as doctors, while still onlygetting paid a nurse's salary. That particular nurse saw 300-400patients a day. I can not imagine a more emotionally draining job. She lamented that at her clinic they actually have enough medication togive to the patients, but that no one will take it, because then theother people in their community will know that they are sick. Thesaddest story was that of the milk formula that spoils with time due tothe lack of mothers that will accept it. Instead of risking the chanceof people in the community finding out that they have AIDS, they wouldrather breast feed their infants and risk the chance of infecting themwith AIDS.
Sadly, many of these condoms simply expire, since they are rarely used.
The sun setting on the Indian Ocean.
After the spicy meal, we decided to comfort our throats with some more Hansa at a bar down the street named Joe Cool's. Despite my best efforts, I lost every game of pool I played and to make matters worse, while I was losing, my camera was stolen. Both were not so cool, but if you learn only one thing in Africa, it is to not sweat the small stuff in life.
camera.
I'm kind of scared to click on the coming posts, as I know SHARKS are in the future. (Warn me this time, lady!)
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it must have been a wonderful journey!
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I just want to say how proud I am of you, and how proud I am to know you. Your sense of ethics, honor, and love is such a gift to all of us to have around, and just reminds us what the human spirit can be. I love you.
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This was an amazing story. It brought tears to my eyes because of this plight they are in. We never fully understand what life really means until we encounter something of this magnitude. Your blog is fantastic and helps to open up eyes and hearts to other parts of the world that are less fortunate. I can't wait to read more.
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That sunset photo is absolutely gorgeous!
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I love that sunset photo too. /but you're right, just those first two facts that you threw out there about the country made my heart sink.
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