I first studied abroad as a 20 year old undergraduate in 2004. I volunteered at a hospital while I was a student at the University of Ghana in Legon just outside of the capital city Accra. This was a small hospital, with a few words and a few doctors. The only specialist there was a pediatrician, and every day she saw all of the children. Everyone else was a general practitioner with 1 year of internship then on the job training. I remember watching the long queues of people lined up every morning to see the 4 doctors and could only imagine what it would be like to be that one pediatrician.
Today, I got goose bumps when one of the other 3 doctors at Port Antonio health department told me I was the only pediatrician there today.
Since I left Ghana 10 years ago, I have thought a lot about global health. I thought about how to make a real impact, I’ve thought about the ways that sometimes well intentioned people with resources such as myself can sometimes be a burden as we try to help. This program is truly done well. My stay is not a burden on any person since no one has to feed me and house me. I am working under the auspices of the public medical system, so if I get Dengue fever and am down for the count there is always a doctor who can see the babies and we are reiterating continuity and the importance of using the medical system. Since Diane tries her hardest to get 1-2 pediatricians here every month there is some consistency and I can make a plan for 3 months from now that I can pass on to another team. There is bi-directional learning. I’m so proud to be here, and to be a part of this program.
I met two people this week after my own heart. One was an ambulance driver. We got to talking about some things that he has seen and he began to tell me his opinions on health care. He believes that health care is a right, and something that should not be withheld because someone cannot pay. He states that life saving medicine should be the priority of the ministry of health and that anything less and the ministry is not doing its job. Next I met a Cuban doctor who is sort of my hero now. He is Cuban and had his medical training there. He does an amazing job with patients and they love him. Part of what makes him great and that he takes the time to explain things to patients, is really smart and thoughtful about them, and takes the time to show them that he cares. He told me that this is how he was trained and it was reinforced by his lifestyle. He said in Cuba, where physicians are just as poor as everyone else, the pride of the poor physician is knowing the diagnosis, having patients want to see you, and explaining things to them well. I'm sure the are many things that are not great about the system there, but training that mentality is truly special. I have no beef with folks who want to make a lot of money, or who argue that we have to make a lot of pay our debts. But the more I do things like this the more I know that no matter where I am or how much I'm paid, this here medicine thing is my calling.
This is like a refresher course is why I became a doctor. I want to be a smart caring doctor to people who barely have a doctor at all. I want to be the kind of doctor to this obscenely under served people, that people who good insurance in the states simply expect. I want to be the kind of doctor that all people deserve to those who don't have the money and voice to demand it.
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