health - public and private!

On every international group experience I’ve participated in over the past thirteen years, the topic of conversation inevitably eventually turns around to stool.  So was the conversation at breakfast this morning as we discussed the consistency and constancy of our bowel movements. Ah, the bonding experience continues!  Fear not, though some of us may be slightly afflicted by this traveler’s malady, we are all still doing well, having the proper medicines and processes in place to keep us – or return us – to health! (Plus, we have the privilege of a resident doctor with us in the good and wise Dr. Thuma, so we are in good hands!)

The outdoor thermometer read 53 degrees when we awoke this morning, and Elaine had built a cozy fire in the fireplace of the Gobelo house where Dr. Mylin and I are staying. We also have the privilege of a lovely fire at our group meeting last night as we debriefed from our time with the traditional healer and discussed etiquette for the village stays this weekend. While many in the group are a bit anxious, I have no doubt their experiences this weekend will end up being a highlight of their trip! They will all be staying in surrounding villages with MIAM employees who Dr. Thuma and Elaine know quite well, so they will be in safe and trustworthy hands!

In class the past few days, we’ve continued our discussion of epidemiology and public health. Yesterday, we spent time discussing the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals, which 189 nations affirmed in 2000 to be reached by 2015. For those interested, here they are:

1. Halve extreme poverty and hunger;
2. Achieve universal primary education (less than 50% of Zambia children go to school);
3. Empower women and promote equality between women and men;
4. Reduce under-five mortality by two-thirds;
5. Reduce maternal mortality by three-quarters;
6. Reverse the spread of diseases, especially HIV/AIDS and malaria;
7. Ensure environmental sustainability;
8. Create a global partnership for development, with targets for aid, trade and debt relief.

We spent time specifically discussing the three health-related goals (#s 4, 5 and 6) and how MIAM and the Macha Mission Hospital are doing on these goals. (They are doing very well!) We also discussed and will discuss (between today and yesterday) the causes and signs of protein energy malnutrition (PEM), iodine deficiency in China, the role of public health measures, and health and the environmental setting.

I’ll post more, including some photos, later today after the students have left for the homestays. So stay tuned!