Introduction
There are many acts of compassion and connection that can explore the intricacies of kindness, respect and trust. However, we do not talk enough on the challenges faced by health workers in poverty and crime stricken areas of the world.
Like patients, doctors, nurses and health givers in general need compassion and connection. This piece, comprises poems of case scenarios that describes challenges faced by health workers in Papua New Guinea.
Eternal awareness
“Two hundred kilometers away, from the nearest hospital, a young mother with a breast lump follows up her biopsy result. As she journeys, the path is prone to unpredictable weather, terrain, criminals and poverty. It has since been six months and doctors have finally received her histology results, it is confirmed, a lobular carcinoma. She coughs and it’s too late the disease has spread. In the nations’ capital corporate bodies flaunt their fashion, raising funds, an eternal awareness.”
Without a roof
“As he speaks instructions of healing he worries where his child will sleep tonight. Surely as evening comes, his child is homeless. As a new day dawns, he lifts his head, though the 21st century he slept where his ancestors had laid.”
Professional abuse
“She sleeps at night, all doors locked in, an on call note awakes her and she worries of the sick. Finally the ward corridors, a sense of safety indeed, but she is cornered by lustful men she calls a boss, a colleague and a friend. Tears stream down her face, there are no empty thoughts, it is always her fault and will always be her fault.”
More than a surgeon
“We gave blood and for now that’s all we can give. A septic bowel patient with no inotropes. Document and leave, that is the order, that has been the order for the last year at least. We are trained to be solutions but work as priests, I think these walls have heard more prayers from doctors and nurses than lepers indeed. Throughout the world people believe, that something greater can cure disease. We believe in knowledge, skills and interventions; but more importantly we should ask ourselves, who is it, we should believe?”
The compassion paradox
Who gives us compassion and connection in a service that requires our compassion and connection? Some receive through the smiles of healing; some receive through the accomplishment of medical feats and sadly some receive through bribes and some have even laid down their lives. It has always been to give, to be of service, but in these times receiving enriches more than giving. How can we give what we have not received?
To establish trust we must be trusted.
“A young doctor writes down his orders and yet the experienced nurses do not follow. They worry he is naive, too inexperienced to make a call that he feels suited. They call his boss so full of wisdom, though the call was right he understands the reason. He talks to the young doctor, why do you think they did not listen? Did you take the time to educate the sick, the guardian and your fellow. You not only must strive for trust from your patients, but it is trust from your nurses and colleagues also. “
Professional empathy.
“It is a full round and guardians are around. They sit and chatter, with red stained teeth that clutter. You can’t think straight with people walking around and you ask for a bin and there is no nurse around. The night shift, did evening shift and also the previous afternoon shift. They are overworked and we scold them about a more glorious yester year. Should you look to the front to show compassion?”
Kindness.
“There is no pupil reaction, its fixed and dilated, the death is confirmed as my heart sinks and quivers. The shouting starts as men run towards me, they throw a chair that hits the wall beside me. I stand my ground, thankful that no scars have begun, as I try to explain, that this was all that could be done. I walk home and question myself knowing that tomorrow the gossip will run.”
Pessimistic leaders
My leaders say last year was bad, this year we are surviving and we expect the next year to be worse. It seems everything is our fault, even though at one time there were no gloves in every ward. We have moved to motivational Mondays to give meaning to our action, to find compassion and learn connection. But there remains barriers words alone won’t break, there remains personal standards that excuses won’t pay. I guess, no one environment is therapeutic as they say.
Medical negligence
“She has been operating for weeks on straight. Turns up at ward round and leaves a drain. The diabetic wound becomes infected and she go through the knee, it’s a good time for the lawyers, medical negligence, yay.”
Professional burn out
“ Sixth caesarian section in the week. He is the only operating doctor as far as the eye can reach. He has lost weight but yet he does not eat. There are still women to deliver, quick. Why doesn’t he leave? He wants to, but remembers this, to get a good pay one must have a Masters indeed. This is the path prone to infection, tuberculosis and mental fatigue.”
Gender equity
“He gets a recommendation as you get a stare, they say women can’t cut and you don’t deserve to be here. You are so bitter; you finally prove them wrong but you shout down your own gender and wear your hardship, as a crown.”
Environmental change
“More dengue, more malaria, more malnutrition we see and these are injuries from resettlements we hear. We need more health efforts as we landfill medical waste and wonder why so many children are born with deformities and no waste. Why should we care of climate change, we are the victims and we shouldn’t change. The ignorance is clear as it starts to rain. These rains don’t usually fall, they are, November rain.”
Corruption and charity
Oh thankyou the government of the day, at least I get paid, I have mouths to feed and school fees to pay. Though I know many are wolves, I still see sheep, not crooks. Good governance is needed to pull clouds closer to the roots. To show compassion and connection we must first love and find passion. Only then can we see the last who are lost and have the least.
Christ like
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
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