2006.06.04: June 4, 2006: Headlines: COS - Micronesia: Medicine: Alternative Medicine: Personal Web Site: Micronesia Peace Corps Volunteer C. Lamond writes: Countless shades of blue
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2006.06.04: June 4, 2006: Headlines: COS - Micronesia: Medicine: Alternative Medicine: Personal Web Site: Micronesia Peace Corps Volunteer C. Lamond writes: Countless shades of blue
Micronesia Peace Corps Volunteer C. Lamond writes: Countless shades of blue
"A few weeks ago, a four-month baby died primarily from malnutrition, amoeba, and pneumonia. The mother wasn’t breastfeeding. They knew the baby was sick and were treating him with local medicine until the baby’s last night on this earth. When they brought the baby to the hospital it was too late to save him. When the baby died, many people blamed the hospital. It furthered my realization of just how deep this hatred of western medicine runs in some people. The hospital is seen as a place to go to die. People wonder how the doctors can sleep at night…as if they’re responsible for every death. Conversations with locals who think this way are very challenging for me. When I feel myself becoming heated, I take a deep breath, listen to the whys, and remember that I have a thousand years of a culture to learn about. The whole situation intensifies my efforts to extend preventive medicine here. Teaching women about the importance of breastfeeding…it seems such a simple thing. It just seems such a simple thing. "
Micronesia Peace Corps Volunteer C. Lamond writes: Countless shades of blue
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Countless shades of blue
[Excerpt]
A few weeks ago, a four-month baby died primarily from malnutrition, amoeba, and pneumonia. The mother wasn’t breastfeeding. They knew the baby was sick and were treating him with local medicine until the baby’s last night on this earth. When they brought the baby to the hospital it was too late to save him. When the baby died, many people blamed the hospital. It furthered my realization of just how deep this hatred of western medicine runs in some people. The hospital is seen as a place to go to die. People wonder how the doctors can sleep at night…as if they’re responsible for every death. Conversations with locals who think this way are very challenging for me. When I feel myself becoming heated, I take a deep breath, listen to the whys, and remember that I have a thousand years of a culture to learn about. The whole situation intensifies my efforts to extend preventive medicine here. Teaching women about the importance of breastfeeding…it seems such a simple thing. It just seems such a simple thing.
I guess I haven’t really talked much about the traditional vs. western medicine much. Its truly an amazing experience for me, as I am able to see extensive benefits of each and contemplate ways in which the two could collaborate and mutually benefit from the other. I’ve studied about indigenous theories of contagious disease, but it is brought to light when living with the people. Some of the local treatments work wonders. Burn victims, for example, heal without so much as a scar. Others are not as successful, and could be potentially harmful when, as in the case of the baby, the people rely solely on a local remedy when further care is needed. There is also an element of calling upon the spirits that adds to the complexity of its lack of acceptance in western medicine. I argue the concepts of science and spirituality, and I still believe in the power of prayer. The major problem lies in the total discounting of the other methods worth. The health centers we are establishing plan to incorporate traditional healers in decision making with the local health councils and allow the opportunity for local medicine to be an option through the facilities. There are so many issues that will have to be dealt with in order for this to become even somewhat possible, more than I can talk about here. Ask me about it sometime though, I’d love to know what you think.
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Headlines: June, 2006; COS - Micronesia; Directory of Micronesia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Micronesia RPCVs; Medicine; Alternative Medicine
When this story was posted in December 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Micronesia; Medicine; Alternative Medicine
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