A class perspective from an interesting vantage point

Good morning everyone!

My third week with Omni Med continues to challenge and inspire me.

I am no longer the only student volunteer at the house. I introduced you to Jack and Jacob last week. They demonstrated their ORSTube prototype to the Omni Med team on Monday. It was fascinating to hear the perspective of the local staff on how this tool could be used by VHTs and what the challenges will be. They will test it with a number of VHTs starting next week and gather feedback to make further improvements.

Four more students arrived on Tuesday. Three are second year medical students at George Washington University in D.C. and one is a senior at Bates College in Maine. The house is very full and it is interesting having roommates who are 20+ years younger than me. They are eager, kind, very accomplished, and well traveled. This morning, Christina introduced them to the work of Paul Farmer and Partners in Health. They dove right in to Pathologies of Power, Paul's famous treatise on health, human rights and the call for preferential treatment for the poor. I look forward to hearing their thoughts on his work.

Elizabeth and the VHTs

I had a second chance at training at the end of last week. Jack, Elizabeth and I drove out to a remote health center about one hour away and met with five VHTs for a training on healthy pregnancy. I felt a bit more prepared for this one as it is a topic I have more experience with from my time managing a home visiting program for new parents in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. It was also really helpful to have Jack as scribe. The VHTs took copious notes and asked great questions--many that I could not answer. All in all, it felt like a success.

Exam room in the health clinic

Training tool for VHTs in the field

Health Clinic

Hallway in the clinic. This is a weighing station for infants.

I've been thinking a lot about social class since I've been here. By Ugandan standards, I am wealthy and very privileged. By American standards I am middle class- thanks to a dual income, no children and a relatively modest lifestyle. I was, however, raised in a working class home. My father worked hard to support six kids as a delivery driver. My mother took care of us and our home. While we mostly did fine, we were on food stamps for a time and from a young age I was keenly aware of our status compared to some of my friends from wealthier families.

College was not something that we were expected to do or something that my parents could have afforded to help any of us with anyway.  I was a pretty good student in high school and wanted to pursue college. I moved out when I was 18 and often worked three jobs to support myself and take occasional courses at the community college.  Later, I took out loans and eventually got a BA from a public university at age 29.  There were times in that eleven year period, where I couldn't afford to fix my car or eat a full three meals a day. I cringe to think about the moldy, roach infested studio apartments I have called home. A few years after my BA, with the help of loans and work, I received a MSW.  It is through the generosity of my employer that I have the privilege of pursing this second graduate degree and this amazing field experience.

Thinking about class from an American perspective in a place where many, many people live on less than $2 a day is an exercise in gratitude and discomfort.  I am deeply appreciative of the opportunities, support, and sheer luck I have experienced in my life. I am also made deeply uncomfortable by the persistent and tenacious injustice and economic violence in the world that allows so many to have too little and a few to have too much.