So in my post about finding medical attention in Egypt, I mentioned that it was suggested to me by an Egyptian doctor that Egyptian medical practioners grossly over prescribe. Well, a friend coming back from Dubai this week informed us that the Egyptian government, in efforts to curb the further spread of H1N1, is now handing out doxycycline, an antibiotic (one used to prevent malaria as also noted in a previous post), to all international travelers entering Egypt. The official upon quesitoning said it was just tylenol.
WHAT? Unprescribed antibiotics handed to everyone in the international terminal?...don't know where to start...
Btw, my health is back in tact, alhumdililah!
I found it quite a miracle how efficient the health care system is in Egypt considering its lack of organizaiton and efficiency in other daily tasks. Furthermore I cannot express how amazing it is to live in a society where insurance works. I had to 2 urine analysis, a urine culture, and a full gynecological exam and didn't open my wallet!! Eventually I asked the doctor at AUC if I need to pay and he said, "you paid your semester medical fee of $85, right? then you've already paid for everything." WOW! $85 all inclusive!
The most memorable moment of it all is when this supposedly super famous gynocologist who's so aged that I wonder if his 'crystalized" eyes can actually examen me says, "you know you are in Egypt? You've heard of 100% egyptian cotton? from now on, 100% egyptian cotton panties." (sorry if thats too personal but I thought it was hilarious considering the circumstances!) Even me with my phobia of medical things can say that the medical services in Egypt are worth a visit! Just take prescriptions with grain of salt.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thanksgiving!
As we all know, Thanksgiving is a purely American holiday (except for Canadian Thanksgiving, of course.) However, it goes without saying that where there are Americans, there will be Thanksgiving!
This year I was blessed to spend a meal and the
day with my new "family" from my MA program and their special friends. We were gonna cook but frankly, there were too many for our student budgets. So we decided to go to the American diner in town that served the classic
Thanksgiving meal.These are the lovely girls that make up my new family. Truly don't know what I'd do without them!
The full group of Thanksgivingers! For a couple of people in the group it was the first Thanksgiving!
We ended back up at Danielle's flat for pumpkin pie and homeworkless chillin. Someone tried to insert Christmas decorations and even Christmas carols....but that will have to wait for a new post!Happy Thanksgiving!!
remaking RLAP
They say that feelings of claustrophobia are common among victims of traumatic situations. Well, claustrophobia also limits those that serve victims of traumatic situations.
Stress is a common visitor at the Refugee Clinic and it showed itself in numerous fashions depending on numerous factors: how many people could crowd into the office, the bathroom drain overflowing, UNHCR unjustly denying another refugee claim, and constantly disappearing pencils. Well, finally it got to be too much.
Enviornment plays a large role in the way people feel and act. Like most non-profit, social service agencies, at RLAP we do the best we can with what we are given. Well, to put it diplomatically, the physcial space at RLAP was not the most comfortable. As you can see in the picture, one could easily confuse our legal aid office for a psychotic day care to the point where the backs of chairs became wall decorations as they fell apart, one by one.
Some things in life we must deal with...other things we can change. This office needed a makeover-- urgently and seriously. So that's exactly what we did. Once again we learned that you can't lose anything by asking! So, in a weekend a team of legal advocates turned painters (I purposefully omit the adjective "professional"). See our progress!
Stress is a common visitor at the Refugee Clinic and it showed itself in numerous fashions depending on numerous factors: how many people could crowd into the office, the bathroom drain overflowing, UNHCR unjustly denying another refugee claim, and constantly disappearing pencils. Well, finally it got to be too much.
Enviornment plays a large role in the way people feel and act. Like most non-profit, social service agencies, at RLAP we do the best we can with what we are given. Well, to put it diplomatically, the physcial space at RLAP was not the most comfortable. As you can see in the picture, one could easily confuse our legal aid office for a psychotic day care to the point where the backs of chairs became wall decorations as they fell apart, one by one.Some things in life we must deal with...other things we can change. This office needed a makeover-- urgently and seriously. So that's exactly what we did. Once again we learned that you can't lose anything by asking! So, in a weekend a team of legal advocates turned painters (I purposefully omit the adjective "professional"). See our progress!
Change, one door frame and one refugee case at a time!
It was an interesting weekend as "US" painting styles, mostly learned by painting dorm rooms, met Iraqi painting techniques as prefered by civil and technology engineers. I can't report that the expertise of engineers dominated the system but it was a good lesson of working together and seeing new ways of doing things.
In Egypt, you don't waste time w/ paint samples, you mix your own shade! Ahmed, Leticia and I work out the perfect pistacchio green!
This used to be that horrid, overstimulating blue room (see 1 picture). Now, Kate calmly and proudly interviews her clients in our "new" office.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
more readin'
Hi;
I know that recently my posts have become more scarce. I don't want to leave you hanging so check out the blog from the refugee clinic where I volunteer. http://starsrefuge.wordpress.com/
I know that recently my posts have become more scarce. I don't want to leave you hanging so check out the blog from the refugee clinic where I volunteer. http://starsrefuge.wordpress.com/
Monday, November 9, 2009
Dr visit in Cairo....
So I seem to have come down with a slight infection-- no, not swine though the stigma remains. Going/finding a Dr in a foreign country is always...an experience...
I'm not one to voluntarily visit Drs.--however, I've been told that in Cairo its much better to visit a Dr than a hosptial, so why risk getting worse?
A few days after the onset of symptoms I decided I must do the responsible thing and postpone my start time at work to see a Dr. I arrived at the AUC-Downtown clinic and was told to wait until the female doctor was available, because of course I could not speak with a male medical professional.
With no one in the waiting room- 20 minutes later it was my turn. I saw the female dr and told her my syptoms. Without any examination or further questions, she wrote down 4 different medications: topical, internal etc...Surprised by her quick determination and trust in my not-medically trained hypothesis that was only based on basic internet search, I was a bit skeptical to say the least. I asked what other syptoms I should look out for and how could I have contracted this? She assured me it was from using restrooms outside of my house and watch out because its the first signs of diabetes! HA! (really, its nothing serious...)
At that, I pleasantly smiled, thanked her for the time, collected my things and walked out the door. I threw the prescriptions away on my way out of the lobby.
4 days later, I visited the clinic on New Campus. There was only a male doctor-- uh oh! I insisted on seeing him-- even tho it was a rather female based issue. I figured, if he works at AUC, meets many Westerners and is a medical professional- he WILL handle my case. This is a medical issue- not cultural. So I walked into his office and as point blank as possible told him all of my female issues. He handled the issues well- but perhaps was taken aback by my frankness. Either way-- he told me I needed some lab work and prescribed a basic antibiotic- I later confirmed that it was a conventional antibiotic. good start.
3 days later at 9 am I took the risk that anything in Cairo is open before 10am and attempted to find the lab-- 49 Nubar St, supposedly right by my apt building. Well....20 is next to 13, next to 41...the other side of the street is also "specially numbered." I had forgotten my phrase book at home so, w/ my lack of Arabic I finally mime my way to 49 Nubar. I now have 20 minutes to pee in a cup and get to work... I realize I have no idea how to say "lab" in Arabic, I'm completely illiterate in Arabic and all signs are in only Arabic. I attempt to mime "lab" or "Dr" to the doorman (if you can think of a way to mime that to an uneducated man please tell me.) He told me 12th floor. Didn't help- still can't read Arabic of the closed doors. Try again- this time 4rd floor--- same. Next he asks if I'm married.
I walk away almost late to work, frustrated by my lack of Arabic, hating feeling like I need someone to help w/ a basic task in life, my schedule is too full to waste this time and don't get me started on Egyptian men.
I get to work and good ol Ahmed writes "lab" in Arabic for me.
One week later (infection still present- but not growing- I hope!) I make time to find another reccommeded lab. 1 Talat-Harb St. I arrive and am told its about "5 min walk down Tahrir St" I ask myself: 5 min Egyptian woman pace, or crazy American woman pace...I walk. I arrive and am told its on Nubar St. aw heck no...I go to work.
3 days later (so now I'm 2.5wks after initial symptoms)- I realize I'm being stupid and irresponsible and am determined to find this lab. Another Arabic speaking friend calls the lab, gets the address and hours of operation, writes it on a piece of paper and I'm on a mission! I meet the same doorman who proposed a week early- show him the piece of paper and he motions to the 3rd floor. I find it-- one block from my house is the lab!
Tom and Jerry is playing on the TV. The Egyptian man sitting next to me laughs at me everytime I laugh at Tom and that poor dog. Finally, I get to pee in a cup! Of course, there is no water to flush the toilet or to wash my hands in this medical lab but the secretary says, "nooo problem! water finished"....whatever, mission accomplished! now, when my results will be in...who knows?!
Random tidbit I learned while chatting w/ an Egyptian Dr in the gym locker room:
Egyptian Drs always WAAY overprescribe. There is a belief in Egypt that the Dr does not do his/her job w/o prescibing a medication. Thus at least one prescription is written at every apt. For this reason, obviously, there is a high resistance rate to antibodies...hum, a bit of Egyptian medical-cultural knowledge!
Also, she got very uncomfortable when I started to undress- in the female lockeroom! She walked out of the room to let me have my privacy...a doctor. a female locker room. we're both females...hum.
I'm not one to voluntarily visit Drs.--however, I've been told that in Cairo its much better to visit a Dr than a hosptial, so why risk getting worse?
A few days after the onset of symptoms I decided I must do the responsible thing and postpone my start time at work to see a Dr. I arrived at the AUC-Downtown clinic and was told to wait until the female doctor was available, because of course I could not speak with a male medical professional.
With no one in the waiting room- 20 minutes later it was my turn. I saw the female dr and told her my syptoms. Without any examination or further questions, she wrote down 4 different medications: topical, internal etc...Surprised by her quick determination and trust in my not-medically trained hypothesis that was only based on basic internet search, I was a bit skeptical to say the least. I asked what other syptoms I should look out for and how could I have contracted this? She assured me it was from using restrooms outside of my house and watch out because its the first signs of diabetes! HA! (really, its nothing serious...)
At that, I pleasantly smiled, thanked her for the time, collected my things and walked out the door. I threw the prescriptions away on my way out of the lobby.
4 days later, I visited the clinic on New Campus. There was only a male doctor-- uh oh! I insisted on seeing him-- even tho it was a rather female based issue. I figured, if he works at AUC, meets many Westerners and is a medical professional- he WILL handle my case. This is a medical issue- not cultural. So I walked into his office and as point blank as possible told him all of my female issues. He handled the issues well- but perhaps was taken aback by my frankness. Either way-- he told me I needed some lab work and prescribed a basic antibiotic- I later confirmed that it was a conventional antibiotic. good start.
3 days later at 9 am I took the risk that anything in Cairo is open before 10am and attempted to find the lab-- 49 Nubar St, supposedly right by my apt building. Well....20 is next to 13, next to 41...the other side of the street is also "specially numbered." I had forgotten my phrase book at home so, w/ my lack of Arabic I finally mime my way to 49 Nubar. I now have 20 minutes to pee in a cup and get to work... I realize I have no idea how to say "lab" in Arabic, I'm completely illiterate in Arabic and all signs are in only Arabic. I attempt to mime "lab" or "Dr" to the doorman (if you can think of a way to mime that to an uneducated man please tell me.) He told me 12th floor. Didn't help- still can't read Arabic of the closed doors. Try again- this time 4rd floor--- same. Next he asks if I'm married.
I walk away almost late to work, frustrated by my lack of Arabic, hating feeling like I need someone to help w/ a basic task in life, my schedule is too full to waste this time and don't get me started on Egyptian men.
I get to work and good ol Ahmed writes "lab" in Arabic for me.
One week later (infection still present- but not growing- I hope!) I make time to find another reccommeded lab. 1 Talat-Harb St. I arrive and am told its about "5 min walk down Tahrir St" I ask myself: 5 min Egyptian woman pace, or crazy American woman pace...I walk. I arrive and am told its on Nubar St. aw heck no...I go to work.
3 days later (so now I'm 2.5wks after initial symptoms)- I realize I'm being stupid and irresponsible and am determined to find this lab. Another Arabic speaking friend calls the lab, gets the address and hours of operation, writes it on a piece of paper and I'm on a mission! I meet the same doorman who proposed a week early- show him the piece of paper and he motions to the 3rd floor. I find it-- one block from my house is the lab!
Tom and Jerry is playing on the TV. The Egyptian man sitting next to me laughs at me everytime I laugh at Tom and that poor dog. Finally, I get to pee in a cup! Of course, there is no water to flush the toilet or to wash my hands in this medical lab but the secretary says, "nooo problem! water finished"....whatever, mission accomplished! now, when my results will be in...who knows?!
Random tidbit I learned while chatting w/ an Egyptian Dr in the gym locker room:
Egyptian Drs always WAAY overprescribe. There is a belief in Egypt that the Dr does not do his/her job w/o prescibing a medication. Thus at least one prescription is written at every apt. For this reason, obviously, there is a high resistance rate to antibodies...hum, a bit of Egyptian medical-cultural knowledge!
Also, she got very uncomfortable when I started to undress- in the female lockeroom! She walked out of the room to let me have my privacy...a doctor. a female locker room. we're both females...hum.
eieiei, life
To my devoted readers, I apologize for the gap in posts however grad school has officially consumed my life. I too have felt the absence of posting- thus I will do my best to continue with more regularity...then again, who doesn't like a surprise- and paitence is a virtue! :)
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