A week ago I had surgery. Although the operation was not super serious, I was a little nervous about "going under the knife." But from the moment I arrived in the hospital, I have to say I was so blessed by the care I received. Everyone that played a part in my operation treated me with such kindness and at no point did I ever feel insecure or concerned about the quality of care I was receiving. In fact, I felt certain I was in good hands and all would go well.
I started to think about those in the hospital in Coban, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, and what it would have been like to have surgery there.
Let me describe the scene...When you walk into the hospital in Coban, the s
mell assaults your senses. It is dirty and chaotic. As you look around, you see people sitting around on the floor everywhere and there is a general sense of disorganization. In the main hall are a few of the mentally challenged patients who live in the hospital begging. They are unkempt, dirty, and clearly not receiving the level of care they need. In admitting, there is only one nurse working - one! - and people have to wait hours to be simply admitted. Once you've filled out the paper work and are admitted, you wait on a gurney without sheets, blankets or pillows. As you wait, you wonder wether or not they are going to have everything you need for your operation, but there isn't anyone there attending to you, so you have noone to ask. Following the surgery, you are placed into a ward with no separate rooms - all 36 patients in one large room. Family members are expected to stay at the h
ospital with you to attend to your care because there are not enough hospital staff to administer the necessary medicine let alone attend to the other needs a patient may have. And, speaking of medicine, often the hospital is out of appropriate pain medication and antibiotics so essential to recovery and proper healing. As a result of a lack of good follow-up care, your hospital stay is, on average, 1 week.
Talk about a contrast...I walked out of the hospital 24 hours after my surgery feeling confident that I would heal well and my problem was solved. Yes, I had to wait for the surgery and it was rebooked/postponed once, but I received excellent care. I am so thankful that I have access to this kind of care. I know our health care system in Canada is facing a lot of problems and it is far from perfect, but it is miles ahead of so many other countries around the world.
40% of Guatemalans have no access to healthcare - none! 90% of infant deaths are caused by preventable illnesses, dehydration and malnutrition being the most common.
I have nothing to complain about!
I started to think about those in the hospital in Coban, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, and what it would have been like to have surgery there.
Let me describe the scene...When you walk into the hospital in Coban, the s
mell assaults your senses. It is dirty and chaotic. As you look around, you see people sitting around on the floor everywhere and there is a general sense of disorganization. In the main hall are a few of the mentally challenged patients who live in the hospital begging. They are unkempt, dirty, and clearly not receiving the level of care they need. In admitting, there is only one nurse working - one! - and people have to wait hours to be simply admitted. Once you've filled out the paper work and are admitted, you wait on a gurney without sheets, blankets or pillows. As you wait, you wonder wether or not they are going to have everything you need for your operation, but there isn't anyone there attending to you, so you have noone to ask. Following the surgery, you are placed into a ward with no separate rooms - all 36 patients in one large room. Family members are expected to stay at the h
ospital with you to attend to your care because there are not enough hospital staff to administer the necessary medicine let alone attend to the other needs a patient may have. And, speaking of medicine, often the hospital is out of appropriate pain medication and antibiotics so essential to recovery and proper healing. As a result of a lack of good follow-up care, your hospital stay is, on average, 1 week.Talk about a contrast...I walked out of the hospital 24 hours after my surgery feeling confident that I would heal well and my problem was solved. Yes, I had to wait for the surgery and it was rebooked/postponed once, but I received excellent care. I am so thankful that I have access to this kind of care. I know our health care system in Canada is facing a lot of problems and it is far from perfect, but it is miles ahead of so many other countries around the world.
40% of Guatemalans have no access to healthcare - none! 90% of infant deaths are caused by preventable illnesses, dehydration and malnutrition being the most common.
I have nothing to complain about!
