Oct 3, 2012
Judy (the health educator I work with) threw
me up in front of about 30 people today and made me give the health talk in
Swahili. My brain can only think so fast in Swahili! I made it through (and
then she translated it into Luo anyways), but it really stretched my brain!
The rest of the day was spent screening
women for cervical cancer using a method called visual inspection with aceitic
acid. Basically, you take cotton on a stick to paint the cervix with table
vinegar; then you look at it with a flashlight and see if there are any spots
that turn white. White spots are concerning for pre-cancer and require
follow-up and/or treatment. It’s cheap, easy, gives immediate results, and
saves lives!
My favorite part of cervical cancer
screening (at least today): when I get to hold the baby while the mom is
examined by Sabina (the amazing nurse and project coordinator that I get to
work with). One child was sleeping and then woke up in my arms, took one look
at my ghost-like face and started screaming! A slightly younger one smiled at
me, put his head on my shoulder, then peed on my lap. Haha. Speculum, please?
1 comment:
i will always remember our heated conversation at cheesecake factory over this! and...YOU SPEAK SWAHILI! Joelle, you are getting more and more irresistible!
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