a peanutty Monday

Morning seemed to come extra early this Monday, though I suppose most Mondays usually do, no matter where you are in the world!
Another yummy porridge breakfast followed by some more hospital rounds for some of us, reading and studying for others, and no doubt some sleeping for a few more! 

Another good lunch was followed by a few more hours of afternoon class discussing the different types of international organizations involved in healthcare – government (e.g. USAID in the States), non-government (including private voluntary organizations – e.g. Doctors Without Borders, philanthropic organizations – e.g. The Gates Foundation, professional/technical associates – e.g. Planned Parenthood, and commercial companies – e.g. consulting firms), and inter-governmental organizations (e.g. the United Nations).  We also spent time discussing the purpose and role of the World Health Organization, as well as the benefits and challenges of economic development and healthcare. The United States is only 21st in the world in giving monetary aid (only .22% of its GNI instead of the UN agreed .7%), despite being one of the wealthiest countries.  We are extremely rich compared to the rest of the world and give a fair amount of aid overseas, but not nearly as much as we could (should) give.

And, oh, the acronyms just keep coming! GDP. GNP. GNI. IMR. WHO. UN. UNICEF.  USAID. OECD. PVO.  It’s like texting for the nations!  (But only a few actually know what they all stand for – hopefully including our students!)  The mid-term is tomorrow (that’s what happens when you only have class for two weeks!), so students are cramming these acronyms into their heads along with the other information they’ve learned in the past week!

The major news of the day is that one of Zambia’s few hydroelectric plants is off-line, meaning we are having some significant power shortages.  The national electric company has started load-shedding (shutting off the electricity in rural areas so more can be given to urban areas), so Macha has been without electricity for most of the day.  Thankfully, the MIAM campus has a generator, which apparently has run more in the past two days than it has in the past two months due to the recent outages!  While we’ve been lucky to have power despite the interruptions, we will be without power tonight from 10:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. to let the generator rest.  (Some of the students are bemoaning the fact that they do their best studying after 11 p.m. – and will have to do it by candlelight tonight!  Another authentic African experience!)

We’ve also been spending a good amount of time today shelling the peanuts some of the students brought back from their home stays!  I shelled some for about two hours total this evening and my fingers are already aching!  But the roasted peanuts and subsequent peanut butter will be well worth the effort!

Tomorrow will bring surgery observation for some students in the morning, no doubt more cramming for others, and the mid-term in the afternoon.  Another full day in Africa!