For me, one of the most interesting discussions was about the use of traditional medicines. This wasn’t actually a discussion in the conference… it was taken for granted by all of the participants that traditional medicines are a perfectly appropriate method to deal with most medical conditions. However I raised the question with fellow volunteers whether they agreed with this, and on the whole, they did.
making traditional medicine
I argued with them that although I appreciate traditional medicines are better than no medicines, as western medical practitioners their first response should always be to refer people to the appropriate medical service. They responded that traditional medicines, in many cases, are just as effective as clinically tested medicines and patients can not / will not attend government health services (for a range of reasons including the cost of transport to reach health services and then the cost of medicines and health care once they get there).
I understand the need to be sympathetic to traditional beliefs and that there are factors that prohibit people from taking these courses, but is it not our responsibility to advocate them all the same? Do you change a system by jumping in feet first and condemning existing knowledge, or is it more effective to condone this knowledge in a softly-softly approach even if it does lead to mixed messages in the short term? I don’t know the answer, and it is something I am going to have to get to grips with in order to provide recommendations from my research.
The conference may have been more interesting for me if we had have been able to discuss this with all the participants, as it was my greatest learning from the week occurred on the journey to Ende.
Just an hour outside of Ruteng the bus I was on had a crash. I was sat at the front and witnessed a motorbike coming towards us loose control on a corner and skid across the road. There was nowhere for the bus to go. I covered my eyes with my hands but it didn’t stop me hearing the thump and then feeling the impact as the bus went over the motorcyclist. No-one on the bus was hurt but the motorcyclist was killed.
Horrific as this was, perhaps the thing that impacted on me most was that there was no ambulance, no police, no witness statements. I just got on another bus & continued my journey.
I argued with them that although I appreciate traditional medicines are better than no medicines, as western medical practitioners their first response should always be to refer people to the appropriate medical service. They responded that traditional medicines, in many cases, are just as effective as clinically tested medicines and patients can not / will not attend government health services (for a range of reasons including the cost of transport to reach health services and then the cost of medicines and health care once they get there).
I understand the need to be sympathetic to traditional beliefs and that there are factors that prohibit people from taking these courses, but is it not our responsibility to advocate them all the same? Do you change a system by jumping in feet first and condemning existing knowledge, or is it more effective to condone this knowledge in a softly-softly approach even if it does lead to mixed messages in the short term? I don’t know the answer, and it is something I am going to have to get to grips with in order to provide recommendations from my research.
The conference may have been more interesting for me if we had have been able to discuss this with all the participants, as it was my greatest learning from the week occurred on the journey to Ende.
Just an hour outside of Ruteng the bus I was on had a crash. I was sat at the front and witnessed a motorbike coming towards us loose control on a corner and skid across the road. There was nowhere for the bus to go. I covered my eyes with my hands but it didn’t stop me hearing the thump and then feeling the impact as the bus went over the motorcyclist. No-one on the bus was hurt but the motorcyclist was killed.
Horrific as this was, perhaps the thing that impacted on me most was that there was no ambulance, no police, no witness statements. I just got on another bus & continued my journey.
1 comment:
Bril post whitters - my initial thoughts are these.
1. You seem to balance the need to 'respect' and operate with (and within) local culture and relaities - and understadibly make a choice to engage with and have your 'impact' in a way that reflects your own perspective. What's the point in 'conforming' to hegemony in all circumstances? Nothing would ever change (for better or worse) if we and I mean 'all' just confromed. Following one's reasonded stance, one's priniples and ones aspirations is a vital aspect of everthing that we are (wow a bit deep and simlistic)- I dont think you have should chose any other course, nor see the profit in doing so - you cannot do damage in what you have said or wish, whether you can do 'good' is an open and fathomless question - but that is no reason not to do as you see fit.
2. Death without the 'extras'. We close roads, tubes etc every time someone cops it - we spend billions killing people - what could 'stopping the world' have afforded your motor cyclist - perhaps it is more about validating your 'horrific' expereince, the most awful thing you can see, and it was not marked in any way. But is this not the reality, you actually needed to carry on with your journey, as did your fellow travellers, and that was that - just questions mate not trying to devalue your expereince in any way. In the end, if this was part of what you were sating(?)life, I think, is a cheap here as anywhere, we just cover out tracks and massage our concience more thoroughly (a bit cynical) but not overly I think.
PS - really ill - so verbal diarrhoea and well as literal!
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