I think what most of us Kenyans lack as a people is Patriotism aka love for or
devotion to one's country.
We have to go beyond the self and strive to make it better for others too. It
is unfortunate that in this era and particularly at this time we can continue to
be tribalists when we already know where that has taken us so far:NO WHERE.
As we wrangle and talk about which tribe is superior to the other, the world
does not stand still and wait for us. Famine does not stop claiming potentially
future scientists, doctors, Engineers, artists, lawyers, Oscar winners etc from
our midst.
As we mourn the good old days, the future is not forgiving unless we make a
conscious decision TODAY to move forward as a people.
I do believe that governments have a role to play in all this but I also believe
that the greater role is in each one of us. Being cognizant of the fact that
reformed people can change governments and usually any government is a
reflection of majority of the people. You cannot sit here and berate the Kambas
or Kikuyus or Maasais and hope that your government representatives will be
saints and be non-partisan.
I do think that we, the educated folks, need to work even harder in our own
surroundings and educate those around us in a non-biased way, the state of
affairs and how things can be changed for the better. It is only then that the
majority of the population can see through the cycle of propaganda, nepotism,
corruption and other ills that permeate most of our elected and appointed
leaders. Then we probably can start seeing great leaders emerge.
Do good deeds to everybody and not only those that you are indebted to or those
that are close to you.
Lets build this Country, Kenya!
Lets not throw stones around. Lets assemble those stones and build houses,
bridges, roads, schools, hospitals etc with them.
Lets get into the habit of supporting each other, instead of tearing each other
down. We all do need each other, if we are to make any sort of major Impact
around us.
Selflessness and Patriotism have evaded us. For the Educated few, we meet in
fora and cast stones at others. It will be remembered more for the contributions
you made than the empty criticisms you belched.
Having an Education is half the battle but not everything. I was dumbfounded by
some venomous stuff that was coming out of some educated colleagues of mine when
I was in Kenya during the 2007/8 Internal skirmishes.
Lets build the future together folks.
This is my take.
~Chite .
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Movie review: Invictus
This is a great inspirational movie of a great leader of all times: Nelson Mandela. The best form of revenge to an "enemy" is kindness. Mandela does epitomize that.
I could think of no one else who would have depicted Madiba almost to himself, than Morgan Freeman.
Although a bit long in duration, the movie is so captivating that time flies by and at the end of the movie, no one in the theater was in a hurry to leave their seats.
I give this movie an A for everything.
Matt Damon was a superb actor and an Oscar may be calling for both him and Morgan as well as Morgan's assistant.
I trully cherished the south African actors and actresses in the movie. Bravo RSA!
This is not just a movie about rugby, It is more than that. I am happy that the theme was not overcrowded by other themes that may have been introduced like racial related violence e.g gang rape, street violence etc.
The directors of the movie steered it to a great climax and through an exceptional story line. I felt inspired to do greater good for mankind. In the immediate period, I felt inspired to forgive all those who had wronged me.
It makes me want to be a better person instead of competing for self-righteousness.
I could think of no one else who would have depicted Madiba almost to himself, than Morgan Freeman.
Although a bit long in duration, the movie is so captivating that time flies by and at the end of the movie, no one in the theater was in a hurry to leave their seats.
I give this movie an A for everything.
Matt Damon was a superb actor and an Oscar may be calling for both him and Morgan as well as Morgan's assistant.
I trully cherished the south African actors and actresses in the movie. Bravo RSA!
This is not just a movie about rugby, It is more than that. I am happy that the theme was not overcrowded by other themes that may have been introduced like racial related violence e.g gang rape, street violence etc.
The directors of the movie steered it to a great climax and through an exceptional story line. I felt inspired to do greater good for mankind. In the immediate period, I felt inspired to forgive all those who had wronged me.
It makes me want to be a better person instead of competing for self-righteousness.
Movie review: Precious
I had a lot of expectations when I went to watch this movie, believing that having been directed by renown black artists, It was going to do justice to various themes that it may have set out to examine.
I must admit, I was utterly disappointed with the whole experience.
I guess having grown up with poverty staring at me everywhere I turned, has made me hardened to superficial portrayals of serious themes.
I will give a few examples:
First, I was expecting the movie to have a better ending than it did. The fact that precious is seen out of the shackles of her mother's grip and living on her own with her children from an incestuous relationship is not enough as an ending. I expected a lawyer, a doctor, a musician, a nurse, a hard-working fully employed woman providing adequately for herself and her children with no external support. That would have been inspirational.
Second, I do believe there is always two sides to any individual. You cannot portray Precious mother as all the negative adjectives with no soul. We should have seen some tender moments as well, If this is to be believable. My father had a rough childhood from his own parents. Worse than some of the beatings Precious endured but the same parents loved his younger brother(paternal uncle). Even when the social worker visits the home, she has hardly left the home than Monique starts throwing things around. It just seems obviously staged.
Third, Addition of HIV to the plot with no resolution of the theme seems superfluous to me. I think, One should decide what themes are to be tackled in a 2 hr movie and try to resolve them to the audiences intended experience.
I could go on and on...
On the positive side, the movie showcases the dishonorable ghetto living to those who have had the misfortune of not living in one at some point in their lives.
At the end of the movie, I am left disturbed instead of Inspired.
I must admit, I was utterly disappointed with the whole experience.
I guess having grown up with poverty staring at me everywhere I turned, has made me hardened to superficial portrayals of serious themes.
I will give a few examples:
First, I was expecting the movie to have a better ending than it did. The fact that precious is seen out of the shackles of her mother's grip and living on her own with her children from an incestuous relationship is not enough as an ending. I expected a lawyer, a doctor, a musician, a nurse, a hard-working fully employed woman providing adequately for herself and her children with no external support. That would have been inspirational.
Second, I do believe there is always two sides to any individual. You cannot portray Precious mother as all the negative adjectives with no soul. We should have seen some tender moments as well, If this is to be believable. My father had a rough childhood from his own parents. Worse than some of the beatings Precious endured but the same parents loved his younger brother(paternal uncle). Even when the social worker visits the home, she has hardly left the home than Monique starts throwing things around. It just seems obviously staged.
Third, Addition of HIV to the plot with no resolution of the theme seems superfluous to me. I think, One should decide what themes are to be tackled in a 2 hr movie and try to resolve them to the audiences intended experience.
I could go on and on...
On the positive side, the movie showcases the dishonorable ghetto living to those who have had the misfortune of not living in one at some point in their lives.
At the end of the movie, I am left disturbed instead of Inspired.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
patient encounter 5:" God bless you"
I pulled a chair close to his bed and just sat there. Both of us, engulfed in silence. He was the first to speak," What can I do for you?" He asked. I was wondering about the same question. I was passing by this patient's room in the ICU, when one of the Nurses called me to tell me that, Mr. K as I will call him, was being rude to the Nurses and very abuse. Showing signs of combativeness and clearly, just trouble making. He was a 29 year old man who had been rescued from Suicide by Overdose on some prescription medications and He was annoyed and angry at everyone who participated in the decision to revive him because he believed that he should have been left to die as he had earlier planned. I listened to him. He vented his problems, anger and frustrations. He asked me If I was going to say anything or I was just going to keep quiet. That's when I seized the opprotunity and I told him that I thought he was a good man making very wrong choices. I asked him about his children, if he had any.( I did not know this patient before). He had Two. 4 year old and a 6 year old. " You do not want your children to go through life thinking that they are the ones that drove you to commit suicide. They will definately miss you and You may not realise but you are the only hero they may know in their young lives.You are selfish for not wanting to share the love of a father with your lovely children. Life throws at each one of us some challanges but running away from them is escapism and you drag your loved ones with you. Your life may be more valuable than you actually think it is." He started crying. He said NO ONE in his entire life had ever told him things from the perspective that I was informing him. He said he would behave himself and will not try to Kill himself again.That remains to be seen but what was immediately evident is that he stopped harrassment of the Nurses on the floor and threatening that he was going to commit suicide. We still involved the Psychiatrists who came and cleared him to go home as they did not find him at risk for suicide. I stood up to leave the room and he called me by name and said," God Bless you".
Monday, September 22, 2008
Patient encounter 4: "Grandfather"
She was a shy little girl. Standing at the door way to the Clinic, she had to be encouraged to get in. Eyes fixed on the ground, she only spoke when spoken to. Even then, just a whisper.
Twas my last day of gynecology clinic and I was very excited to finish my Internship rotation in Gyn. I liked my interactions with the patients, its the speculum exams that I was not so fond of. I would pray silently that the next patient on the list did not have any complaint that warranted a Speculum exam. I was often unfortunate in that regard. Most women presenting to this clinic, just like in most poor rural clinics i had been to, were solely here because they had been witnessing something "weird" from their "private parts". Preventative care is still not a norm around here rather an exception.
She said she was 13. She had been in eighth grade when she was hurriedly married off to offset her father's dowry debt accrued when her older brother married two years earlier.
She had been having abdominal pains for 3 days. She had gained weight . Hours earlier she had seen some watery discharge from her "private parts."
One look at her and it was Obvious, she was in Labor!
I quickly took her to the Labor room and she was 8cm dilated on VE. She was now very exhausted. She had labored for 3 days. On intrapartum monitor, The fetus was in distress in addition to being a transverse lie! In 5 minutes I was doing the C-section and a beautiful 3 pounds 6 ounce baby boy was delivered. Had some meconium staining at first and on a few suctions later,He delivered the best sound in the OR. Cry.Cry.Cry.His mother was excited and for the first time I saw her smile. Since she was under epidural anesthesia and I handed her her baby, before we rushed him to the Nursery, as I finished closing her skin with sub cuticle sutures.
She was wheeled to the Post-delivery Unit and she made a quick recovery. The baby did well too. It was One week later that I met some of her relatives.
I was rounding on other patients in the Obstetric ward when I was called by the Nursing staff and asked if it was ok for the baby's grandfather to see him. I went out to meet him.
He was an old 6'3'' tall man, with golden hair and a stooped gait, a cane in hand for support, wearing a Maasai garb with a younger ochre-covered warrior in tow.
I quickly assumed that the younger man who may have been in his early 20's was the father to the baby and I ushered him in the nursery and took him to his baby's cot. He was satisfied with the care and I assured him that we may discharge his son in a day or two. That's when he turned and told me that the old 70-something year-old man at the waiting bay was the baby's father and not him. I was speechless! The 13 year old girl was the old man's 7th wife!
I went and met him again. Now recognizing that he was the proud father of a the 37th addition to his nuclear family. He was as proud as a first-time dad! The age gap notwithstanding!
Twas my last day of gynecology clinic and I was very excited to finish my Internship rotation in Gyn. I liked my interactions with the patients, its the speculum exams that I was not so fond of. I would pray silently that the next patient on the list did not have any complaint that warranted a Speculum exam. I was often unfortunate in that regard. Most women presenting to this clinic, just like in most poor rural clinics i had been to, were solely here because they had been witnessing something "weird" from their "private parts". Preventative care is still not a norm around here rather an exception.
She said she was 13. She had been in eighth grade when she was hurriedly married off to offset her father's dowry debt accrued when her older brother married two years earlier.
She had been having abdominal pains for 3 days. She had gained weight . Hours earlier she had seen some watery discharge from her "private parts."
One look at her and it was Obvious, she was in Labor!
I quickly took her to the Labor room and she was 8cm dilated on VE. She was now very exhausted. She had labored for 3 days. On intrapartum monitor, The fetus was in distress in addition to being a transverse lie! In 5 minutes I was doing the C-section and a beautiful 3 pounds 6 ounce baby boy was delivered. Had some meconium staining at first and on a few suctions later,He delivered the best sound in the OR. Cry.Cry.Cry.His mother was excited and for the first time I saw her smile. Since she was under epidural anesthesia and I handed her her baby, before we rushed him to the Nursery, as I finished closing her skin with sub cuticle sutures.
She was wheeled to the Post-delivery Unit and she made a quick recovery. The baby did well too. It was One week later that I met some of her relatives.
I was rounding on other patients in the Obstetric ward when I was called by the Nursing staff and asked if it was ok for the baby's grandfather to see him. I went out to meet him.
He was an old 6'3'' tall man, with golden hair and a stooped gait, a cane in hand for support, wearing a Maasai garb with a younger ochre-covered warrior in tow.
I quickly assumed that the younger man who may have been in his early 20's was the father to the baby and I ushered him in the nursery and took him to his baby's cot. He was satisfied with the care and I assured him that we may discharge his son in a day or two. That's when he turned and told me that the old 70-something year-old man at the waiting bay was the baby's father and not him. I was speechless! The 13 year old girl was the old man's 7th wife!
I went and met him again. Now recognizing that he was the proud father of a the 37th addition to his nuclear family. He was as proud as a first-time dad! The age gap notwithstanding!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Patient encounter 3: I want to be a patient!
I was working at one of the HIV/AIDS clinics that Indiana University has helped establish in Kenya and there was one patient left, before we closed the clinic.
The day had been long and we had seen close to 100 patients in this 2-roomed clinic.
The last patient came into the room. I will call him: J.
J. was 28 years old, 5' 10'' tall, slender and had completed 12 years of schooling. He quickly sat down and as usual i offered a handshake. J had a good grip, notably shaky and with sweaty palms.
I started my usual questions. I asked him to give me a piece of paper that showed his HIV status.
He had none.
He had an explanation.
" I know am HIV positive but I have tested three times now and my results are always negative. I have travelled for 2 days to get to this clinic and there is no way that you are going to turn me away now. I want to be part of this program-AMPATH (Academic Model for the Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS)."
I quickly went and got the rapid HIV kit. I told him that I was going to test him for HIV again and explained the whole concept to him. I also informed him that if negative he would have to come back in three months for a re-test. He agreed albeit grudgingly.
My pre-test probability was very low. He denied any high risk sexual encounters. He had not been sick before. No recent weight loss. No history of alchohol use or illicit drugs use. Monogamous.Had 3 children.
The test result was Negative. Again. I was happy for him.
He went ballistic! He could not believe it!
This was an unusual reaction. I had never encountered anyone who would be livid on discovering that they were HIV negative.
J. tried to "sweet-talk" me into enrolling him in the program but I informed him that we only enrolled HIV positive patients. Unfortunately, he promised me that he would be back!
I later found out that he wanted to be part of a family that cares. He had heard a lot of positive things about AMPATH and wanted to be a member. Part of it was because of poverty. He wanted to get the services provided by AMPATH.
With this organisation; Patients are seen by doctors, are cared for and seen in reasonable time, are given free HIV treatment and treatment of opportunistic infections. Patients are taught survival skills, are supplied with food the first few months after diagnosis and offered training on business and farming initiatives etc. He wanted to be part of all these...
On the other hand... If HIV neg. There is nothing for free and one pays for what one gets. With most of the population below the poverty line, Its no wonder someone would rather be HIV positive.
This experience was an eye opener for me.
I want to dedicate my life to the care of these poor people and work with them in establishing systems that can absorb the non-HIV positive poor patients.
It is my hope and prayer that J. does not show up to the AMPATH clinic at all, because am very sure he will be positive this time round!
Chite.
The day had been long and we had seen close to 100 patients in this 2-roomed clinic.
The last patient came into the room. I will call him: J.
J. was 28 years old, 5' 10'' tall, slender and had completed 12 years of schooling. He quickly sat down and as usual i offered a handshake. J had a good grip, notably shaky and with sweaty palms.
I started my usual questions. I asked him to give me a piece of paper that showed his HIV status.
He had none.
He had an explanation.
" I know am HIV positive but I have tested three times now and my results are always negative. I have travelled for 2 days to get to this clinic and there is no way that you are going to turn me away now. I want to be part of this program-AMPATH (Academic Model for the Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS)."
I quickly went and got the rapid HIV kit. I told him that I was going to test him for HIV again and explained the whole concept to him. I also informed him that if negative he would have to come back in three months for a re-test. He agreed albeit grudgingly.
My pre-test probability was very low. He denied any high risk sexual encounters. He had not been sick before. No recent weight loss. No history of alchohol use or illicit drugs use. Monogamous.Had 3 children.
The test result was Negative. Again. I was happy for him.
He went ballistic! He could not believe it!
This was an unusual reaction. I had never encountered anyone who would be livid on discovering that they were HIV negative.
J. tried to "sweet-talk" me into enrolling him in the program but I informed him that we only enrolled HIV positive patients. Unfortunately, he promised me that he would be back!
I later found out that he wanted to be part of a family that cares. He had heard a lot of positive things about AMPATH and wanted to be a member. Part of it was because of poverty. He wanted to get the services provided by AMPATH.
With this organisation; Patients are seen by doctors, are cared for and seen in reasonable time, are given free HIV treatment and treatment of opportunistic infections. Patients are taught survival skills, are supplied with food the first few months after diagnosis and offered training on business and farming initiatives etc. He wanted to be part of all these...
On the other hand... If HIV neg. There is nothing for free and one pays for what one gets. With most of the population below the poverty line, Its no wonder someone would rather be HIV positive.
This experience was an eye opener for me.
I want to dedicate my life to the care of these poor people and work with them in establishing systems that can absorb the non-HIV positive poor patients.
It is my hope and prayer that J. does not show up to the AMPATH clinic at all, because am very sure he will be positive this time round!
Chite.
Patient encounter 2: Lets Pray.
I was on call and cross-covering a patient on another team. I had received a change over that the patient was likely to die that night. I will call him Mr. X
Mr. X had been diagnosed 5 years earlier, with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. He had been given less than 2 years to live as his disease was so extensive.
His family had all along known what was coming and It was no wonder that he was a DNR.
I was called to his bedside by the Nurse as Mr. X had gotten more short of breath and was now on supplimental oxygen by face mask. I briefly introduced myself and talked to him. I do not think he understood. I knew he was about to die. I then called his wife and informed her to come to her husband's bedside as this was it.
20minutes later she was there with her daughter. The time was 01.00am. He finally breathed his last at 05.12am.
His wife was devastated. His daughter uncontrollable emotionally.
I led them to a conference room nearby.
I was overwhelmed with their emotions. I had thought that it was going to be relatively easy to talk to them because they had spent quite sometime with him from the time of diagnosis and they knew what would happen.
Its never easy even when death is expected.
I asked them if they were believers.
Yes they were.
I asked for permission to pray with them.
Gladly they accepted.
We held hands and I offered a short prayer. It may have been just a minute or two but it was effective.
They quickly calmed down and started reliving some wonderful moments they had with him. They even talked about some of his favourite jokes. He was truly a great man as gathered from their recollection. He was a war veteran too!
I listened. Sometimes added a comment. I did not know the man before this night. I was simply caring for him as one of my colleague's patient but I was left richer by my interraction with this family.
I excused myself to attend to other patient duties.
It was not until 2 months later that I received a card in the mail from the two women: mother and daughter. They hed appreciated all the efforts we had done in taking care of their loved one. The phrase that touched me immensely is when they said:
"He (their loved one), could not have died at a better time and under your care (me). You eased the transition for us and we will be forever grateful, for it is doctors like you that make us have immense confidence in the health care system.You care. God bless you"
There were tears welling in my eyes and I relived the whole experience again.
There is never a good time to die but when you do, the little things that us health care professionals do become memorable by the deceased relatives' years to come and may impact them forever.
Chite.
Mr. X had been diagnosed 5 years earlier, with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. He had been given less than 2 years to live as his disease was so extensive.
His family had all along known what was coming and It was no wonder that he was a DNR.
I was called to his bedside by the Nurse as Mr. X had gotten more short of breath and was now on supplimental oxygen by face mask. I briefly introduced myself and talked to him. I do not think he understood. I knew he was about to die. I then called his wife and informed her to come to her husband's bedside as this was it.
20minutes later she was there with her daughter. The time was 01.00am. He finally breathed his last at 05.12am.
His wife was devastated. His daughter uncontrollable emotionally.
I led them to a conference room nearby.
I was overwhelmed with their emotions. I had thought that it was going to be relatively easy to talk to them because they had spent quite sometime with him from the time of diagnosis and they knew what would happen.
Its never easy even when death is expected.
I asked them if they were believers.
Yes they were.
I asked for permission to pray with them.
Gladly they accepted.
We held hands and I offered a short prayer. It may have been just a minute or two but it was effective.
They quickly calmed down and started reliving some wonderful moments they had with him. They even talked about some of his favourite jokes. He was truly a great man as gathered from their recollection. He was a war veteran too!
I listened. Sometimes added a comment. I did not know the man before this night. I was simply caring for him as one of my colleague's patient but I was left richer by my interraction with this family.
I excused myself to attend to other patient duties.
It was not until 2 months later that I received a card in the mail from the two women: mother and daughter. They hed appreciated all the efforts we had done in taking care of their loved one. The phrase that touched me immensely is when they said:
"He (their loved one), could not have died at a better time and under your care (me). You eased the transition for us and we will be forever grateful, for it is doctors like you that make us have immense confidence in the health care system.You care. God bless you"
There were tears welling in my eyes and I relived the whole experience again.
There is never a good time to die but when you do, the little things that us health care professionals do become memorable by the deceased relatives' years to come and may impact them forever.
Chite.
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