Day 4- Global Health

One health disparity I noticed was how difficult it is for people in this mountain village to access healthcare and basic resources.  The roads to get there were very steep and had a lot of turns, which made it clear why it is hard for people to travel to other areas.  Many people do not have cars, so even getting to a pharmacy or clinic can be very difficult. I also learned that most people in the community only make about $5 a day.  When someone is making that little money, it would be very hard to justify spending it on healthcare, especially if it costs more than what they make in a week.   Most people would choose to spend that money on something that helps their whole family rather than something than something that only helps one person.

Limited resources influenced that way care is delivered in this community.  The nearest city with a pharmacy is about 15 to 20 mintues away, which may not sound like a lot, but it becomes a big challege when you do not have a vehicle to get there.  Because of this, many people may go without medications or treatment that they need.  It really showed me how much access to transportation and nearby healthcare can affect someone's health.

This experience challlenged some assumptions I didn't even realize I had.  Growing up in America, it is easy to assume that things like medications, toliets, and healthcare are always available. Being here showed me that many people around that world do not have those same resources.  It made me realize how much we take for granted and how different life can be in other communities.

This experience has helped me understand that global health is about more than just treating illnesses.  It also includes understanding the environment people live in, their access to resources, and the challenges they face every day.  Healthcare is not always just about giving someone medication.  Sometimes it is about understanding the barriers that prevent people from getting care in the first place.

One of the biggest strengths I see in this community is how connected everyone is.  The people truly funtion like a family unit.  For example, the teacher shared that she used her own money to buy computers so students could learn skills like English, Word, and Excel to help them in secondary school.  I also saw strangers helping watch a one-year-old child while the mother was getting care.  They were not related, but they understood that helping each other is important.  That sense of community support is something powerful.

Today I am grateful for many of the small things we often take for granted in America, like having a toliet and toliet paper.  Experineces like this really make you realize how different daily life can be in other places.  It also made me feel grateful for my own family because they are always there through the good times and the hard times.   Seeing how important community and familly are here reminds me how valuable those relationships really are.