Uncovering Dignity

We got to spend another day serving the people at the refugee camp! We saw about 150 patients today and were even able to do physicals for our translators and cooks!

We saw a lot more Muslim women today than we have in days past, which always makes practicing medicine interesting. Most of the women were able to roll up their sleeves enough for a blood pressure reading, but there were some who’s cuffs were way too tight to get up that high, which meant a trip to the back room where they could strip privately away from the men to get their blood pressure taken. This ended up being very necessary for one woman who got a pretty high blood pressure reading and received medication to treat it.

There was also a young teen who was experiencing an irregular period, so I had to ask her if she was sexually active. My translator got VERY uncomfortable and spent about five minutes “translating” my question. From her gestures and the girl’s horrified facial expression, I believe we were educating on the birds and the bees…

And yet another hijab-wearing woman was dealing with ear issues and needed to remove her head covering so we could take a look and so we had to makeshift a shelter for her to honorably do so.

Dealing with uncomfortable or vulnerable situations like these and others such as deformed anuses and herniated testicles (both patients we have also seen at this camp) brings about an interesting balance that we have to walk. On the one hand, there really isn’t anything close to privacy in medicine, but on the other, there is definitely dignity and honor. This is true in America, but there is a whole other layer to consider overseas. What is taboo in this culture? What things are kept private? How do you handle these vulnerable moments with patients in a way that maintains their dignity?

I knew going into this trip that this culture (both Thai and Burmese) place a heavy importance on respect, honor, and dignity; and that working with people who have had to flee their country would probably mean their level of honor and dignity would need to be protected and uplifted. I knew that touching heads was frowned upon because that is where the soul resides, and yet we would probably have to touch lots of heads (I’ve probably touched close to 400 heads so far on this trip!) I had not considered how truly vulnerable we need to be to get care for our bodies, and how much harder that must be for people who have different standards for what is appropriate in public and what is not.

It is at times like these (and honestly, pretty much 24/7) when I realize just how much I need to lean on God for direction. He understands their sense of self. He knows what honor means, and what dishonor means. And He dealt with every person that He met while on earth with dignity and respect while also addressing their spiritual and physical needs. The bleeding woman comes to mind, for example.

In every area of my life, I strive to be more like Jesus. And as I go to bed tonight, I find myself pondering how I can be like Him when in those vulnerable, uncomfortable spaces with patients.