Each and every day has been packed full with exciting events and clinical experiences. During the weekend we do excursions where we sight see and do touristy type things from 8am to 6pm (sometimes later). We have definitely been blessed with a great staff that has planned our days out to the T. We have an awesome bus driver who drives us around each day starting at 8am. Sammy (the bus driver) picks each of us up from our homestay house and drives us to each and every one of our clinical or excursion sights. During the week, we come to the University of Western Cape where we meet up with the Nursing staff here who coordinated our program. CFHI (Child Family Health International) is the third party program who has coordinated our trip here to Cape Town, South Africa. We are the first group to do this particular program. Most students who study abroad come for a four week program and are placed at a hospital site where they participate in hands on care. We, on the other hand, are a two week program where we travel to different sites every day. With this being the first time this particular program is being ran, there are definitely glitches and uncertainties in our daily schedule each day. We have learned to be flexible and left "in the dark" about a lot of our adventures. They like to call this "African time" where you just go with the flow and let things happen as they will! Our first few days were all excursions for fun. I have briefly mentioned some parts already but I want to tell you more about a few of my clinical experiences.
Monday, January 13th we began the more serious classroom and clinical experiences. Monday we had orientation to the campus and to the professors and nurses (sisters) who would be accompanying us during our stay here as registering as a student at The University of Western Cape. I'm technically an exchange student here! Woooo!
Tuesday, January 14th we had the rare opportunity to be incorporated in the 'Sangoma' traditional and spiritual healing ceremony. This was the first of the kind held on the campus of the University. It was very touching and interesting to say the least. This allowed me to appreciate the culture and practices of others first hand by watching and listening to personal experiences of a 'sangoma'. One of the professors here is a nurse as well as a 'sangoma'. She lead the ceremony in song and dance, calling the ancestors to protect and watch over the practices being performed. Traditional African religions tend to be focused on the respect and ability to connect with their ancestors. A 'sangoma' is able to interact and communicate with ancestors in order to spiritually heal their needs. The professor who plays the dual role, does not force her own beliefs on patients. She said she would never try to heal anyone with a disease such as leprosy, she is meant to make peace within their soul by communicating with her ancestors. It is a part of her culture and she feels it should only be practiced by those who choose to do so on their own. The ceremony was beautiful and powerful, and I am glad I was able to see it first hand!
Wednesday, January 15th was the first clinical day. We traveled to Lady Michaelis in Plumstead. The Primary Health Clinic is an all-encompassing facility where the people in the community come for various health needs. Located in the clinic is a Physical Therapist, Dietician, HIV/AIDs intervention, Dentist, Pharmacy, and various other health related interventions. It was crazy and mind blowing to look at how differently this facility was ran and organized compared to a clinic in the states. There are no appointments so it is a first come first serve basis. A patient may come and sit at the clinic all day and never be seen by the professional they want to see. This is the first step where the patient "gets into the system" and may be referred to a Secondary Hospital to better suit their need. The facility is not very spacious, and patients are lined up along each wall sitting in chair, patiently waiting their turn. I can't even imagine how annoyed an American would be sitting at a clinic all day, but here it is normal and it's what you have to do.
P.S. In South Africa they refer to a Nurse as a 'Sister'
xoxo
Chelsea
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