I continue to be both troubled and inspired as I progress through Half the Sky. Chapter 7 looks at women's mortality during childbirth, the major factors involved in these alarming rates and the success that Sri Lanka and Edna Adan have had in increasing health care to this population. The story of Prudence and the circumstances surrounding her death are heart wrenching. It's troubling enough that she received no prenatal care throughout the course of her pregnancy but the callousness with which she is treated by the doctors and nurses was too much. These women already have so much working against them...poverty, lack of education, basic health care... but to be treated with such disregard in their time of most need left me with a sick feeling. It seems that the medical staff has literally grown numb to what they see around them and that is troubling to me. If they, the very people who live and breathe this and have been entrusted to care for the least of their brothers (and sisters), can so easily look the other way and leave a woman to die a preventable, painful death, why then would the rest of the world care to make a difference?
Fortunately there are people that have made it a priority. Sri Lanka has made a concerted effort towards improving health care and education to women. The combination has drastically reduced the number of deaths during childbirth. Edna Adan refused to be deterred in creating a maternity hospital that bears her name. The lives that have been saved between these two efforts are literally life changing. But this is because Sri Lanka and Edna Adan WANTED to make deaths during childbirth a priority. How can we make it a world wide issue that calls more people to action?
Circumstances surrounding women's mortality can bring out the best and worst of humanity. I choose to believe that the best will win out and more Edna Adans can make the difference that these women so urgently need.
I was definitely in shock as I read about the calloused doctors who "took care of" Prudence. We sometimes hear stories of doctors in the states who lack 'bed side manner' or have committed malpractice, but this an entirely new level of disregard. In fact, I had to reread many parts of the chapter because I could not believe what I was reading, I just could not process that health care professions could treat someone the way the doctors and nurses treated Prudence. Reading about Edna Adan and her efforts to help women was inspiring. Her efforts to help women with health care was such a stark contrast to the attitudes and actions of the doctors and nurses who let Prudence die, and it was comforting to read of a person who is willing to help those in need. In order to make child birthing deaths a priority world wide, we must first speak up and let others know of the terrible things women suffer in other countries. We must help others to first understand the problem so that we can work together on a solution.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading this chapter I was struck by the difference in the behavior of the doctor and nurses operating on Prudence and the two men who were there observing the whole situation. These men heard that Prudence was dying and they offered to give their own blood to save the life of a woman they didn't even know. Compared to the callous way the doctor treated Prudence it really caught my attention. It left me thinking if I was in Cameroon standing next to Prudence as she lay dying would I give my blood? With a needle I didn't know was sterile? I of course hope there was something I could do, even if it was providing sympathy and comfort to Prudence's family. One section of the book said that situation's such as Prudence's happens "somewhere in the world every minute." I can't imagine not knowing this before. Can you imagine being Prudence in that situation? Or a member of her family forced to watch her die as the medical care is flippant and nonchalant about her care? I certainly cannot, although the story is frustrating and incredibly sad it moves me to want to act.
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ReplyDeleteThat was very well written, and I feel like I couldn't have said it any better myself. As for Prudence's story, it really is a shame that people who work in helping people would be so rude and unkind to people of lower incomes and higher needs. Although I am sure that the doctors/nurses come across families like Prudence's a lot, and that may not be ideal for them, you still treat them like any other human being and you still give them the most care that you can provide. When I read the part about Dr. Pipi leaving through the back door the night they were going to do the blood transfusion that really made me upset. I can't imagine being that doctor and just going home from work pretending like someone isn't dying under your care right now.. It is so unbelievably inhumane to treat another life like that, especially when they are helpless and you know that you can help them out (and because it's your job!)
ReplyDeleteThe things that are in the book about Sri Lanka are very inspiring. The fact that they really took the time and effort and money to improve the over healthcare for pregnant women/mothers is amazing. They made so many changes in that aspect such as ambulances, trained midwifes, and easy access to physicians if necessary. I really believe that all countries should follow the plan that Sri Lanka has set up, because it really seems to be working for them, and if other countries would realize the importance of healthy children and mothers, than it could work for them too.
I agree that the story of Prudence was troubling, that cannot be denied. However I also feel like the doctor and nurses were not well represented, in other words I believe the situation would sound a little different if told from their point of view. The author did touch on the fact that the ratio of patients to medical staff was very disproportionate and the doctor was being very over worked. With that said I believe it can be safely assumed that Prudence was not the only patient in the hospital in need of immediate care, who knows how many people the doctor saved before needing to leave the hospital. Doctors are human too, they need to eat and sleep even while people are dying. The author said the medical staff acted cold-hearted out of spite, I’m not sure I can comfortably make that judgment without hearing the other side or being there to witness the situation first hand.
ReplyDeleteI know where you're coming from when you talk about the doctors who were supposed to be taking care of Prudence. It's appalling that a doctor would provide such terrible care for a patient because of his spite for her husband. It's even more heart wrenching to read that this is happening to a different women somewhere in the world every single minute. It makes me think about what our lives are like in America and how much better our standard of health care is.
ReplyDeleteThe book notes that if Prudence would have had a better education that she would have had a much higher chance of being saved. I do agree with this, but I believe that it is much harder to accomplish this than it is just to talk about it. This ever-going topic in the book makes me wonder what I could do to help this situation. It also makes me think about the children here in our country who are significantly under privileged and are stuck in a situation they are unable to get out of or change. While there are so many terrible problems going on around the world, I feel as though there is a level of neglect when it comes to the same problems that are going on within our borders. Working to improve our immediate community can not only benefit our country as a whole, but help us to understand what works and what could be applied to countries across the world.
I agree with you Roger, as heartbreaking as it was to read how the doctors treated Prudence, it was just another part of their day. The whole health system in that country was lacking and they probably had to turn down dozens of patients and were always struggling for supplies and medicine. It would be interesting to learn more about them. I thought it was interesting to read that when people there get MDs they will leave the country then stay and work for their local communities. It just shows that the culture needs to reevaluate the health system and put emphasis on providing better care and more staff in hospitals.
ReplyDeleteWhat boggles my mind with the reading in chapter 7 is the confusion of the situation that happened to Prudence ans the knowledge that there are many women in other developing countries who get absolutely no medical treatment during pregnancy and birth and have zero complications. It is hard to think if maybe she had no "help" what the situations end result would of been compared to what is was. Some countries do not even have a health system, not saying that their birth mortality rate isn't high, I do not know, but you seem to hear more horror storied of countries with a lacking health care system then the ones without any healthcare. What I would like to know more of is the birth mortality rates of those women with no medical facilities or health care system compared to those with a premature health care system. Does a health care system do any good if it is underdeveloped? Or does it do more harm?
ReplyDeleteI see why you question to care about women suffering in situations such as these. I don't think you should feel that way though it crosses our minds. I know there are people in their country that care for these women and want to make a difference, but probably don't know how when their education level is so low. That doesn't pertain to just this situation, but situations where women or people in general have to go through painful situations and no help. It saddens me. Also, not only do people lack education, but they have no money so maybe they feel like its nothing else to do other than ignore it.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your post, I really reflected on the points that you made. You are right, why would the world care to make a difference when people like doctors and nurses who are supposed to want to help people in need are turning the other way? I don't know what I would do if I lived in a country where women are treated so poorly. I would be afraid and on edge at all times. It's so sad to think that women can't even receiveS the care that they need at a hospital. They don't feel safe anywhere. It's nice to read about Sri Lanka and Edna Adan. They are people who are WANTING to make a difference in these woman's lives. They are wanting women to feel safe. It is people like this who start to make a difference in the world and who help open other peoples eyes to realize what is happening outside of their own lives.
ReplyDeleteWomen should not have to die in childbirth. They should be able to have the resources that they need to go through childbirth without them dying. Women in those areas don’t have the education like other places. To help these women who are facing childbirth not to die we can help educate them and also donate supplies to the hospitals so the cost can be cheaper for these families. We can help inform these families that it is better to go to the hospital sooner for help than later. And we could get a fundraiser started to help those who can’t afford to go to the hospital for help.
ReplyDeleteI think some doctors refuse to work on some patients because of credit issues in their past patients. In America you’re talking to the hospital and get immediate heath care. You could be facing an insurmountable cost when your surgery or visit is complete, but you’re walking away healthy. The poverty in third world countries doesn’t allow affordable health care to people. The doctors have seen in the past that their customers didn’t pay which in result the doctors have now asked for money up front. I’m not saying this approach is right or wrong, but it’s just something that needs to be considered on why some women aren’t receiving pre natal or in any case health care.
ReplyDeleteBeing members of the first world, we tend to forget that the majority of the world's citizens don't have the advantages that we do. While some of us are unable to afford a prescription without help, there are communities without doctors or hospitals in other countries. When we complain about student debt in college, we forget that even going to high school is a privilege denied to millions. Remembering how fortunate we are can be difficult at times but trying to help change the lives of others is even more difficult.
ReplyDeleteI was thoroughly shocked as to how the people who were medically trained did not help. As I read through Half the Sky I wonder when will people value human life? What is it going to take? For as many students that come over to the U.S. to study medicine maybe some should return to their own country and work their to help.
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