original Nepal photo by malì serena aurora
You can complain about just how bad we have it here, about how put upon we are here in Lotus Land. You could go on about how the dance clubs close too early and we just can't have any FUN any more. You can protest the establishment and you can give to local charities. If you're like most people, the action is mostly at arm's length; not close enough to really 'get any on ya.'
There are people out there that are trying to get as dirty as they can, and they're going where many people have a whole lot less than your average Hastings Street drug user. I'm going to tell you about one person who is going to do something special as soon as exams are finished. Jessica Otte is a medical student at the University of British Columbia, and she's soon off to Nepal as part of a program put on by the Himalayan Health Exchange.
"There's nothing amazing about me or what I'm doing. I just want to do it right, and that means being actively engaged in the relevant ideas before even undertaking something. Dr. Samantha Nutt said it best when she explained that Global Health doesn't have to mean packing your bag and going overseas. We can do a lot more damage than good if we rush into it, expecting to change the world."
I think there's something pretty special about anyone who goes out on a limb, and does something about health in those areas that need it; whether it's in Asia, or on the Downtown East Side. It doesn't matter that this is valuable experience for a medical student, and that she's going to learn something at the other end of her stay. There's a potential for thousands of people to be helped here, who otherwise might not receive it, especially in a nation that is in upheaval; the removal of their king from power is occupying a lot of the government's energy (Politics of Nepal on wikipedia).
I asked Jessica a couple questions about her trip, and about how she came to the decision on exactly where she was interested in taking her volunteering self. I mean, there's so many countries on the UN lists that face severe shortages of skilled medical help; how does one decide which people to help?
"I haven't been given an official post yet, but it will be a remote clinic somewhere in the Kathmandu Valley. There, I'll work with a local physician to do physical exams and to treat everything we have the means to treat. [...] According to UN development program stats, there are only four physicians per 100,000 people in Nepal.
I wanted to take part in something that was sustainable, well-thought out, suitable for my skill level, and culturally-sensitive. They [The Himalayan Health Exchange] work with local health authorities and can therefore better identify the needs of the populations they serve, [more so] than would a group that simply goes in seeking to do their conception of "good." Also, this program has some formal teaching sessions to help students with cultural competency and diagnosing/treating diseases that we don't often see in North America. I've always been afraid to engage in this sort of project and take away from the experience more than I can give, but I think the formal training early on in the trek will allow me to not just work, but work well."
I asked about the items on her list, and asked if there was any potential problem she could see with carrying a large box of drugs into another country, let alone through all the countries that she's be passing on the way (see Jessica's Itinerary)
"I am slowly amassing a collection of over-the-counter drugs as well as basic med supplies (gauze, band aids, needles, etc). Simple things like antifungals, antacids, antibiotic ointments, pain killers, etc. shouldn't be a problem, but I won't bring any prescription drugs [...] I have no privileges over a non-medical student, because I have no license yet."
Big boxes of face masks and latex gloves might get a raised eyebrow, but it's nothing that should land one behind a locked door. While she may be modest about what she's doing, I think it's one of the best things you can do to help; do it in person.
If there's anything you feel you might be able to contribute; be it money, supplies, or even just your good wishes, check out her trip planning blog. Her budget breakdown is there, and outlines about $5000 in expenses. She has setup a way to send money online or you can drop her an email if you have other resources you can help out with.
Also check out Dr. Sam Nutt's War Child Canada organisation, which has inspired more than one medical student to head to places in need.
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