It’s the third day at the clinic with no doctors. Felix has passed and traveled north to Mexico, leaving us with little more than mild flooding. Patients wait on the front porch for care, with no one here to provide it. Nurse Salaam can only treat minor illness and is not able to prescribe antibiotics. Handa, the caregiver, who has worked in Mother and Child Care for over 10 years, is not allowed to examinations or give vaccines – she doesn’t have a license. No nurses, doctors or administrators have come in for three days because we have no vehicle to use. The PG PCP has two cars accessible to them, but will only share if San Antonio pays the whole gas bill for the month.
I am starting to see the downside of NGO work.
I have been angry all morning. At the Cuban doctors sitting in PG watching TV instead of seeing patients. The Nigerian Nurses who complain that the villages we work in are hell holes with no civilization present (have you seen the pictures of Africa? Its no picnic there either.) Pharmacist that act like a possessive boyfriend, making work uncomfortable and awkward. Mayan’s who don’t talk, but instead giggle and cover their mouths or shy away. Men that stare when you walk through town, the say obscene things in Mopan and English.
What am I doing here? What have I done that had made anyone’s life better? Filing, trying letters, making brochures and handing out toothbrushes and pencils to Mayan kids who turn around and steal from their friends. Talking to Mayan women is like talking to a door. No response, no acknowledgment that you are even there – even when you have a Mopan translator.
I think that I am stressing that Lex is leaving this weekend. We are heading up to Belize City for a few days. I'm hoping that this mini vacation will give me a mental break.
Felix was another disapointment. We had some rain and a light breeze. I really shouldn't complain - Belize City is still under water from Dean. I have another 3 months of hurricane weather. Wonder how many I will see?
